Some songs hit you with their sound. Others pierce through with their message.
“Nameless World” by French rock rebels Skip The Use does both — and then does it again with an animated music video that feels like a rallying cry in four minutes flat.
Released December 18, 2013, the track quickly became an underground sensation, now boasting over 123 million views. Blending punk rock grit, electro punch, and socially charged lyrics, it’s an anthem for a generation disillusioned and disconnected — but not defeated.
We sat down with frontman Mat Bastard and members of the band to talk about the making of “Nameless World” and why the message is more urgent than ever.
Q: The song is powerful on its own, but the animated video feels like a story in itself. Where did that concept come from?
Mat Bastard: We wanted to show a world where identity is erased. People just… existing, without really living. The animation gave us a way to do that without limits — to exaggerate that gray, lifeless feeling, and then explode it when the music hits.
The video begins in a bleak, colorless dystopia — citizens staring into screens, marching to identical jobs, stripped of individuality. As the beat grows sharper, cracks form in the monotony. Colors bleed in. Faces light up. The rebellion takes shape.
“It’s not just cool visuals,” Mat adds. “It’s the whole story — oppression, awakening, revolution — without saying a single word.”
Q: Musically, “Nameless World” has a lot of bite. Was that intentional from the start?
Mat: Absolutely. We didn’t want this to be background noise. The guitars had to hit like a punch, the rhythm had to push forward. When I’m singing this, I’m not just performing — I’m charging. Punk energy, yes, but with direction. You can be angry, but you need to know why you’re angry and where you want to go with it.
Q: The video’s message — “Wake up, fight for meaning” — feels especially relevant today.
Mat: Yeah, it’s wild. When we made this, we were talking about media saturation, control, losing your personal story. Ten years later, it’s still happening — maybe worse. Social division, information overload… It’s easy to feel nameless. That’s why we keep playing this song live. It’s a reminder: your voice still matters.
“Nameless World” works because it’s not just noise, and it’s not just art — it’s both, tied together with urgency. Whether you’re pulled in by the beat, the fury, or the animation’s cinematic rebellion, the result is the same: you walk away thinking and feeling something.
Or, as Mat puts it:
“If you scream loud enough, someone will hear. That’s the point.”