Synopsis

Roses Gabor performs "Pharaohs" inside a stark studio setup, surrounded by cameras while SBTRKT appears as a masked observer. She moves through the track's hypnotic pulse, changing masks, face paint, and visual identities as the performance unfolds. The deliberately simple presentation keeps attention on Gabor's physicality, the striking props, and SBTRKT's mysterious presence. Rapid cuts and shifting angles transform the centered performance into a stylized portrait of the singer and the masked world associated with SBTRKT.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Pharaohs" features vocals by Roses Gabor and appears on SBTRKT's self-titled debut album, released in 2011.

• The official video was published on September 7, 2011, ahead of the song's release as the album's third single.

• The production was designed to complement the visual identity of SBTRKT's album artwork, particularly its use of masks and graphic portraiture.

• Gabor's performance was filmed with an eight-camera rig arranged around her. The setup provided full 360-degree coverage and allowed the edit to move around her in 45-degree increments.

• The camera design was conceived as a low-fi nod to the "bullet time" effect associated with films such as "The Matrix," rather than as a fully computerized version of the technique.

• Because the cameras covered the entire circle around Gabor, nobody could remain in the studio during the takes. Resetting the cameras between shots was one of the production's practical difficulties.

• The shoot was completed under a very tight timeline, with the creative team relying on the masks, face paint, and other props to create much of the video's visual impact.