Exclusive Video Premiere: ‘In the Dark,’ The Gaslamp Killer

ABOVE: WILLIAM BENSUSSEN, AKA THE GASLAMP KILLER. IMAGE COURTESY OF ABBY WROSS

Though his first studio effort, Breakthrough, was released by Brainfeeder just this past September, the Gaslamp Killer (real name William Bensussen) is by no means new to the game. The San Diego native has been a key player in the LA beat scene alongside colleague Flying Lotus, and his eccentric DJ sets at events like his well-known Low End Theory parties have made him one of the most respected talents around. Pulling influence from just about every genre possible, Bensussen’s style is a mind-expanding experience, a drug-infused blend of different countries and cultures put to the sound of some block-rocking beats.

The cinematic “In The Dark,” a cut from his aforementioned album, is yet another of the artist’s unique concoctions, obscure in its use of hard-hitting drums, horns, and twisted synth. The song’s accompanying video, which we’re pleased to debut here, perfectly complements the Gaslamp Killer’s aesthetic—”This is the way the world ends,” a child’s voice creepily coos at the start of the clip, which opens with kaleidoscope-filtered visions of winter trees. Shot in a snow-covered forest outside Prague—the crew were given exclusive access to a medieval crypt built in the 12th century—the video focuses in on a throng of mysterious, slow motion-moving figures dressed in ominous garb.

“We were inspired by ancient mysticism and rituals from different cultures that evoked the same beauty and mystery of the track,” says HYPERBALLAD, the directing duo responsible for the visuals. “We blended images to explore contrasting cycles of light and dark, male and female and good and evil.” The result is a sexy yet shiver-inducing ode to the occult, perfectly soundtracked by the Gaslamp Killer’s psychedelic trip-hop.

BREAKTHROUGH IS AVAILABLE NOW. FOR MORE ON THE GASLAMP KILLER, VISIT THE ARTIST’S WEBSITE.