
GAIKA's 'Immigrant Sons' Video Is a Call to Action
Jul 11, 2018
On the heels of releasing his debut album BASIC VOLUME, GAIKA, who hails from the south London neighborhood releases a explosive new video today. The clip for "Immigrant Sons (Pesos & Gas)" was directed by Paco Raterta, who also helmed the video for "Crown & Key," a previous GAIKA single.
Related | Did You Know That SOPHIE Produced These 10 Iconic Songs?
Musically, "Immigrant Sons," which was produced by SOPHIE, is a well-crafted melange of dancehall and hip-hop. With direct lyrics like: "I want to see you in rebellion," the song's catchy underpinnings serve a greater purpose as a call to action against government corruption. Paired with gritty, surreal visuals from Raterta of crows flying in desolate forests and zombified crowds standing amid rubble seemingly post-revolution, "Immigrant Sons" takes on an ominous potency that is not easy to shake.
In one particularly disturbing image, GAIKA's eyes become laserbeams, an allegory that seems to suggest having vision among blind sheep. In this day and age, with all that is constantly going on to demean those seen as "other," "Immigrant Sons" dares those with privilege and those without to stand together and fight.
Watch the video below. BASIC VOLUME is out July 27; RSVP to GAIKA's New York album launch here.
Courtesy of WARP Records
MORE ON PAPER
Music
Reneé Rapp Trusts Herself
Story by Erica Campbell / Photography by Yasmine Diba / Styling by Valeria Semushina / Makeup by Loren Canby / Hair by Marissa Marino / Nails by Anna Wesolowska / Set design by Kelly Infield
Story by Erica Campbell / Photography by Yasmine Diba / Styling by Valeria Semushina / Makeup by Loren Canby / Hair by Marissa Marino / Nails by Anna Wesolowska / Set design by Kelly Infield
26 June
Film/TV
'Overcompensating' Hits Where It Heals
Story by Joan Summers / Photography by Kenyon Anderson / Styling by Marissa Pelly / Set design by Liz Mydlowski / Makeup by Rommy Najor, Mollie Gloss / Hair by Akihisa Yamaguchi, Sergio Estrada / Grooming by Kennedy Trisler
Story by Joan Summers / Photography by Kenyon Anderson / Styling by Marissa Pelly / Set design by Liz Mydlowski / Makeup by Rommy Najor, Mollie Gloss / Hair by Akihisa Yamaguchi, Sergio Estrada / Grooming by Kennedy Trisler
05 June
Entertainment
The 2025 Tonys: 'Give It Everything Or Die Trying'
Story by Michael Musto / Photography by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders / Jewelry by Alexis Bittar
Story by Michael Musto / Photography by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders / Jewelry by Alexis Bittar
05 June
Film/TV
Coolest Person in the Room: Stephanie Suganami
Story by Andrew Nguyen / Photography by Diego Villagra Motta / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Hair by Stefano Greco / Makeup by STOJ
Story by Andrew Nguyen / Photography by Diego Villagra Motta / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Hair by Stefano Greco / Makeup by STOJ
30 May
Music
Tate McRae, Pop in Motion
Story by Ivan Guzman / Photography by Greg Swales / Styling by Chloe and Chanelle / Makeup by Lilly Keys / Hair by Chad Wood / Nails by Juan Alvear / Props by Lucy Holt / Extras: Faux Real
Story by Ivan Guzman / Photography by Greg Swales / Styling by Chloe and Chanelle / Makeup by Lilly Keys / Hair by Chad Wood / Nails by Juan Alvear / Props by Lucy Holt / Extras: Faux Real
14 May