The Duo Explains: Vákoum - 'SPARK'
Experimental pop duo Vákoum talks to us about their gripping music video for ‘SPARK’, which champions self expression and vulnerability, free from fear of judgment and perceived weakness.
Where was the video for 'Spark' filmed?
Spark was shot in three days in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.
How does the video connect with the song?
It is hard to answer this question because the narrative isn’t entirely something lyrical. The connection between the song and the images are inspired by a feeling rather than a story, and in that sense they formed to connect in a more mystical way.
‘Spark’ is constantly changing, emotionally. There is frustration, and there is acceptance. There is suffering and there is love. Spark longs for transformation.
The special thing about this collaboration with Adrian Landeros, is that he understood this piece on a very deep level, and created a story that shows the dichotomy between reality and the way in which it can often be distorted if we aren’t paying attention. We often perceive death as something tragic and traumatic, though in this video it points to transformation.
Do you have any behind the scenes stories you could share with us?
The dance scenes were shot at an abandoned factory that had been set on fire. The room was covered with so much ash that by the time we were finished, the two dancers were covered in black, which was extremely difficult to remove. The producer, Ambrosio, had to find a spot were they could have a shower at nigh-time (something that is incredibly hard to find at one of the least friendly industrial spots in the city).
They ended up having a full body shower with a bucket in the bathroom (not much cleaner than the location) of a mechanic workshop were five guys were playing cards.
Can you tell us about the ideas/themes/imagery used?
The main concept the video is aiming to portray is the internal process of how reality is continuously being distorted either by longing, idealization or fear, and how letting go of attachment opens a real possibility to experience freedom through the realization that nothing real is ever threatened.
Is there a message the video is trying to convey?
More than a message, a purpose. We wanted to create a space where expression is safe without the fear of judgment and where vulnerability is conceived as powerful rather than a weakness. It is the place where the truest form of connectivity and expression can occur, a dive into the subconscious, really.
Interview by Karla Harris