PREMIERE: Kez shares cinematic video for bold debut single 'How Can You Not See'

Vibrant Dublin singer and musician Kez is making her debut with the stunning Radiohead-inspired new single, ‘How Can You Not See,’ out tomorrow (October 14) and premiered by Hot Press below.

The bold and deeply moving anthem about self destruction sees Kez narrate a story about being in a relationship with someone blinded by depression. The subject is tragically unable to see all the love and good in the world around them. The Feeetzy-helmed video injects traces of broodiness, seduction, the corporeal and masculinity into the interspersed clips, fusing the romantic with the poignant.

Evolving from an ethereal vocal line and simple acoustic guitar into a textured rush of guitars, organs and synths; the anthemic track is framed by the power and purity of Kez's distinctive voice.

“The writing of this song drew on my own experience with depression and subsequently watching someone else go through that. I wanted to say, ‘There’s a light at the end of the tunnel,’” Kez explains of her debut, which was co-produced by Kez and Galway-based producer Rory Ryan.

“Radiohead’s ‘Fake Plastic Trees’ was a key reference for this track, so we were lucky to get Paul Kolderie (who produced and mixed Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ and ‘Fake Plastic Trees’) to mix it,” the singer-songwriter adds.

The accompanying music video is hauntingly atmospheric, softly lit by candles and beautifully acted by Kez and Shane Lennon. Co-directed by Feeetzy and Kez, the clip showcases her clear artistic vision and knack for fusing visual art with sonic storytelling.

"The video crew was small. Just Feeetzy, myself, my sister Daph, and Shane Lennon, a friend and talented actor," she tells Hot Press. "This was my first real exposure to film direction. It was awesome. Feeetzy has worked on some incredible music videos before and he was a pleasure to work with and learn from."

Shane (the protagonist) is set in darkness, with his body and self-worth in question. There’s a lot of melancholy in the song but there’s also hope, lightness, resolution.

"To express this, we experimented a lot with lighting and mirrors, with visions of demon worship, the male body, and with the image of a bull as an ideal masculine form," Kez discusses. "For me the lighting was really important. I wanted it to be drenched in red - it’s a very passionate colour. The result is sombre, moody, and a bit sultry."

Check out the compelling video for ‘How Can You Not See,’ below.

From a band Kez started at the age of eight and singing in choirs, to her current music career, Kez has kept up her family’s long-standing music tradition.

"I'm related to Irish tenor, Dermot Troy, on my grandmother’s side so I come from a family of big voices,” the Dubliner says.

Primarily self-taught, Kez picked up guitar, piano and GarageBand as a teenager. Having spent her early twenties living in California playing small gigs, Kez returned to Ireland to start her music career in earnest and became a regular on the capital's open mic circuit.

The emerging star has been mentored by legendary producer Albhy Galuten (The Bee Gees, Eric Clapton) over the last couple of years as she has developed her sound and her music draws on various folk, indie and rock influences.

Sharon van Etten, Florence & the Machine and Joan Baez's powerful heft and vulnerability are clear factor's in Kez's artistic growth. Keep your eyes peeled in 2023 for Kez's anticipated debut album. She's a massively exciting alternative talent on the Irish radar.