Synopsis
Roses Gabor performs "Pharaohs" in a stark studio setting, surrounded by a circle of cameras that capture her from multiple angles. She sings, dances and repeatedly changes her appearance through masks, face paint and dramatic styling. SBTRKT appears only briefly, wearing the distinctive mask associated with his anonymous artistic persona. The spare setup gives the clip a ritualistic, fashion-oriented atmosphere, while rapid cuts and shifting perspectives turn a simple performance into a hypnotic visual experiment.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video was released in September 2011 as a visual for "Pharaohs," a track featuring vocalist Roses Gabor from SBTRKT's self-titled debut album.
- The production was designed to complement the visual language of the album artwork, particularly its emphasis on masks and concealed identity.
- Roses Gabor was filmed inside a circle of eight cameras. The setup allowed the edit to move around her in 45-degree increments, creating a simplified, low-fi variation on the "bullet time" effect.
- Using full 360-degree camera coverage created a practical problem on set: crew members could not stand inside the rig while the performance was being filmed.
- The clip was made under a tight production schedule, with the masks, face paint and other props providing much of its visual variety without requiring elaborate locations or sets.
- The video keeps SBTRKT himself largely concealed, reinforcing the distance between Aaron Jerome, the musician, and SBTRKT, the masked persona.