“Shook” by Dralms

Vancouver, Canada’s Dralms has premiered a video for their single “Shook” this week in advance of the release of their debut full-length album of the same names arrival, October 2 via Boompa Records (North America) and Full Time Hobby (Europe).

“Shook” was directed by the band’s singer/songwriter Christopher Smith himself. Much like his curated Instagram account, he approaches video making with an eye for clean-lined minimalistic modern art and sparse iconography. Smith emerges as a skilled director, using repetitive calculated movement to draw the viewer in. It forces you to look at the details. The flowers change, the sweatshirts change, the woman in the bed is a little more in frame, the musical mood remains the same. “Shook” lyrics are left to hang in the air as Christopher spins within the video.

Well I think, I dreamt of you last night
While my thoughts, they are not clear
The feeling it holds on tight

When I awoke I was covered in your scent
with bruises on my wrists
and scratches on my neck
and we both know what we’re dreaming of
and we both know what we’re looking for

Yeah we both know what we’re dreaming of
and we both know what we’re looking for
Well I think, I dreamed of you last night
While my thoughts, they are not clear
The feeling it holds on tight

When I awoke I was covered in your scent
with bruises on my wrists
and scratches on my neck
and we both know what we’re dreaming of
and we both know what we’re looking for

You’re the best I ever had o master
You’re the best I ever had o master
You’re the best I ever had o master
oh my better half
you cum and plaster crumbles to the floor

“Shook is that moment when everything changes. Where you hold on to what’s true to you for dear life, or let it all crumble, accept it, pick up the pieces and move on,” explains singer Christopher Smith.

About Dralms:
Dralms is Christopher Smith’s latest project, which, over the past year, released two celebrated singles: “Crushed Pleats” (released via Fat Possum in the U.S.) and “Pillars & Pyre”. Those exquisitely rendered and emotionally bold singles were perhaps gentle threats of future Dralms offerings.

Shook is defined by its rich and simmering heart of sounds, yet its contents are as provocatively elusive as the band’s name. There are moments of slowly uncoiling grace and precision, such as with ‘Usage,’ the opening track, and ‘Wholly Present’, but there is a newly minted pop acumen at work too, in the rock/beats interface and relative buoyancy of ‘Objects Of Affection’ and ‘My Heart Is In The Right Place’.

Dralms’ live personnel includes drummer Shaunn Thomas Watt and bassist Peter Carruthers (Siskiyou), and keyboardist William Kendrick (Failing). The recording has been further enhanced with electronic beats and programming from Andy Dixon (Secret Mommy.)

Shook track listing:
01. Usage
02. Pillars and Pyre
03. Domino House
04. Divisions Of Labour
05. Shook
06. My Heart Is In The Right Place
07. Objects Of Affection
08. Wholly Present
09. Gang Of Pricks
10. Crushed Pleats

Posted 30 September 2015
File under: Video of the Day