Synopsis
Hannah Cohen's "Fake It" follows a woman trying to leave heartbreak behind during a sun-drenched escape to the Dominican Republic. Moving through tropical streets, coastal landscapes, vintage gowns, and rides on local motorbikes, Cohen shifts from quiet hurt to a more self-possessed, defiant mood. The video pairs the song's uneasy reflections on pretending and emotional compromise with an atmosphere of freedom, travel, and reinvention, suggesting that a change of scenery can help turn pain into confidence.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video was premiered exclusively by Vogue on April 15, 2015, alongside the release campaign for Cohen's album "Pleasure Boy."
- The production was originally planned for Mexico. The location changed after a friend studying in the Dominican Republic offered the crew a place to stay, leading to a three-day shoot there.
- The shoot used vintage gowns, windswept styling, and motorbikes borrowed from local residents, giving the video its improvised travel-film quality.
- Cohen wrote the song in one afternoon on an omnichord, making it her first composition on the electronic instrument.
- The video's production listing identifies the filming location as La Romana, Dominican Republic, and credits Eric Yue with cinematography, Claire MacDonald with production, Alec MacDonald with editing, and Irving Harvey with color.