The Video Explained: Daimy Lotus - 'OK that it's not OK'
We catch up with Dutch singer-songwriter Daimy Lotus and director Maya Mae to talk about the ideas behind Daimy Lotus’ cathartic single and music video, ‘OK that it’s not OK’.
Where was the video for OK that it's not OK filmed?
Daimy: “In a beautiful hidden natural reservoir close to Havenhoofd (Zuid-Holland). I fell in love with the place from the moment I was driving there for the first time.”
Maya: “Daimy was the one to pick out the location, this is also where the concept first started: she wanted to film the video in this serene oasis. At first I had some other locations in mind, but eventually this spot turned out to be the perfect setting for this video.”
How does the video connect with the song?
Daimy: “To me, the video translates my feelings of finally being able to let go of a very painful situation. This situation regards my biological father who hasn't been in my life, which affected me a lot mentally, resulting in anxiety, trauma and depression. Writing this song made me realize I am the only one who could give myself the closure I needed. Having it accompanied by these beautiful visuals now, does nothing but secure the fact how freeing it is to finally have found that closure. I’m OK and I’m happy.”
Maya: “When Daimy sent me the idea behind the song, the place from which it was written, I started thinking of ways to translate her journey of finding this peace within herself. I wanted to portray the stages one has to go through in order to let go of the hurt on their way to finding closure. I wanted this video to be something Daimy could identify with.”
Do you have any behind the scenes stories you can share with us?
Daimy: “I didn’t go to the toilet from 10AM-7PM because I was wearing a corset and I didn’t want to take it off to go pee in the bushes to come back and get myself all the way back in my outfit again haha. It was manageable though!”
Maya: “Well I remember we were all so confused when the shoot day went exactly as planned and with ‘exactly’ I mean spot on in sync with the timetable I had created for my shot list. I think I checked this list an extra 20 times because everyone, including myself, wasn’t really believable of the shoot day being an actual wrap haha.”
Could you tell us about the ideas/ themes/ imagery used?
Daimy: “Since Maya wrote the entire concept I think she can explain this to you in the best possible way.”
Maya: “The video starts off on a dune where a washing line has been placed with clothes and fabrics hanging from it. We see Daimy doing her laundry while telling us her story. All the clothing and pieces of fabric represent Daimy her unprocessed emotions, the feelings that have been keeping her back. This is where the first stage is being introduced: she is taking the first necessary steps by exposing these feelings towards herself. On her way towards the last stage of this process, she’s having serious conversation with herself, reminiscing and looking back. Eventually she is faced with the person in the mirror. This scenery serves as a space where confrontation and healing rules the air, which she is so desperately in need of. Finally she is able to breathe all of this in the moment she unhooks herself from the corset that has been denying her of fresh air, a fresh start.”
What do you hope people take away from watching the video?
Daimy: ”I hope that people are able to feel, through both the music and the video, how freeing it is to be able to let go and I hope that this helps them to let go of a toxic or painful situation of their own. I hope they will find a stage of peace and acceptance like I did with my situation.”
Maya: “I couldn’t have phrased this more perfectly!”
Interview by Karla Harris