Ajay Mathur presents dreamlike music video for “UNGRATEFUL” – A visual journey of love, loss and liberation

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ajay Mathur releases the impressive music video for his moving ballad “UNGRATEFUL,” the first single from his upcoming album, showcasing Mathur's signature blend of transcultural rock soundscapes with emotional depth à la Sting. Created in collaboration with Argentine visual artist Ciro Ayala (Los Angeles), the video transforms the song's emotional journey into a dreamlike visual experience.

A visual metaphor takes flight
The video for “UNGRATEFUL” tells the song's narrative through two mythical birds whose relationship reflects the transformation of love. Starting out playful and loving, they gradually change in appearance—from harmony to confrontation, from love, loss to liberation—capturing the song's journey from “I touched the stars and the moon” to the cathartic realization “I'm free.”

Aquarelle dreams meet emotional truth
Shot with a soft, ethereal aesthetic reminiscent of “What Dreams May Come”, the video has a dreamlike, Aquarelle quality, with each frame feeling like a living Van Gogh painting. The shifting colors and symbolic imagery create a visual poem that transcends language and culture.

“We wanted to create something that feels like painted poetry,” explains Mathur. “The birds represent what we all experience when love transforms—the beauty, the pain, and ultimately the liberation of letting go.”

About the Song
“UNGRATEFUL” is a personal and moving rock ballad that traces the rise and fall of love with unflinching honesty. The lyrics capture the painful truth: “Love, the most UNGRATEFUL game of them all” – but the song does not end in despair. It ends in liberation.

“UNGRATEFUL” tracks the course of a love that once felt boundless – “I touched the stars and the moon, the sky” – before reality set in. The lyrics capture the painful realization that devotion and effort cannot always save a relationship, repeating the sobering truth: “The harder we try, the deeper we fall… “ But pain gives way to clarity. Carried by a groove that feels both worldly and intimate, the song transforms heartbreak into self-determination when the singer lets go: ”Just not my game anymore... I'm free."

A driving groove, anchored in transcultural soundscapes and emotional narrative power, “UNGRATEFUL” is a powerful combination of vulnerability, resilience, and musical sophistication. A song that transcends boundaries and lingers long after it ends.

With UNGRATEFUL, Ajay Mathur once again demonstrates his unique strength in cross-cultural collaboration. The project brings together musicians from different traditions: the rhythmic impulses of a drummer from Sardinia, the warm groove of a bassist from Buenos Aires, the spiritual sound of the Indian bansuri flute from Kolkata, and the elegant grand piano of a long-time Swiss musician friend. The final production polish and mix took place in New York—the last step in a musical journey across several continents. UNGRATEFUL is a compact but impressive example of transnational creativity and musical dialogue.

Listen to “UNGRATEFUL” on any streaming platform: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ajaymathur/ungrateful

“UNGRATEFUL” Video: https://youtu.be/dIo0libVKpo