Cults - You Know What I Mean

After watching the past two videos for their singles “Go Outside” and “Abducted,” it became pretty clear that New York City-based band Cults won’t settle for just any visual treatments for their songs. Filled with dark, shocking and/or controversial plots, the two clips have helped maintain the duo as one of the most talked-about indie acts over the past year. Although this new music video from them is aesthetically unique from its predecessors, it’s no different from the aforementioned in terms of the effect it should have on its viewers. Set to the music of the band’s 1960s pop-inspired “You Know What I Mean,” the visual above stars Cults bandmates Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin as lovers divided by Follin’s father. No boy is ever good enough in the eyes of a father, but Follin’s takes a cruel and unusual route of making Oblivion prove his worthiness by taking his stuntman role in Follin’s father’s carnival to the next level. Press play above to watch the strange, yet romantic video for one of the standout tracks from Cults’ debut self-titled album, which is in stores now. Also, see below for commentary from the video’s director, Isaiah Seret.

This was second time directing a video for Cults (the first being “Go Outside” in 2011) and I must say we really have an amazing connection and trust, which is so important when it comes to taking risks and making videos outside the standard ‘safe zone’. For “You Know What I Mean” I first pitched a ‘lighter’ version of the concept, which the band came back asking me to make it crazier. I loved hearing that! In fact, that push is how I came up with key aspects of the storyline, specifically the burn victim elements.”

Source: NPR