Jon Lindsay makes scenes with “Dear Assassin,” a highlight single from his critically acclaimed Big Stage LP. A master of theatrical alt-pop, the song is a swirling, emotionally charged anthem that explores ambition, identity, and the pressures of performance in the modern world. Lindsay’s calling card is razor-sharp songwriting coated in high drama, and “Dear Assassin” is no different. The song threads a line between vulnerability and bluster as Lindsay confronts some unseen foe with a rising emotion. It’s lush without being overblown, catchy without frivolity, and pulsing with the sort of immediacy that seems tailor-made for the times we’re living in.

But it isn’t just the song that has people talking. Helmed by longtime creative collaborator Chris Walldorf, who has film experience, edited Netflix’s Night Stalker, and has worked with Danny McBride’s Rough House Pictures, the video for “Dear Assassin” is more of a short film than anything else. Walldorf’s vision offers a darkly modern twist on Lindsay’s vision, deepening the song’s emotional resonance with strikingly cinematic visuals. It’s not often that a music video feels like a cinematic event, but this one does. From dimly lit hallways to surreal sequences that provide a visual key to some of the subconscious turmoil in Lindsay’s lyrics, there’s narrative weight.

It’s an immersive experience that broadens the world of Big Stage but also stands on its own. “Dear Assassin” succeeds, in the end, because it resists closure. It is art-pop that doesn’t wince, set to visuals that bear repeat views. Jon Lindsay once again shows that he’s not making songs, he’s building worlds. And, with this single, we’re all miraculously asked to come inside. For anyone who likes their pop smart, their tales dramatic, and their music willing to go big, “Dear Assassin” is required viewing and listening. Jon Lindsay is bringing the Big Stage and taking it.