THEY. deliver Wiz Khalifa-assisted ‘What I Know Now’ video and new Jessie Reyez collaboration back to back
THEY. dropped the music video for their Wiz Khalifa-assisted single “What I Know Now,” closely followed by a brand new collaboration with Jessie Reyez, “Broken.” The new visual is sure to set the tone for the duo’s highly anticipated upcoming Fireside EP, set to land on November 9. The impending project will reportedly feature contributions from Jeremih, Gallant, Vic Mensa, and Ty Dolla $ign.
The “What I Know Now” visual, directed by Amber Park, succeeds in bringing an array of concentrated elements from an entire era of music to the here and now. The horizontal grain from the handheld digital camcorders of yesteryear show a dark, grungy, visceral, live set reminiscent of the 90s — the compression effect on the guitar and chains hanging from the stage add to this end. The editing on the video, however, is something digital artists of that time could only dream of.
Sonically, “What I Know Now” remains contemporary. The LA-duo sing catchy hooks through subtle autotune and the presence of Wiz Khalifa’s high energy, status, and experience bring the message of the performance to light — they’re rock stars, they’re high profile, and they’re clearly confident about what they’re about to release.
The pace changes considerably on the EP’s second offering, “Broken” featuring emerging pop force Jessie Reyez. The smooth, heartbreak-inspired collaboration points to a well-rounded collection underway on Fireside, and certainly highlights the complements between Reyez’ infectious vocals and THEY.’s sleek R&B-influenced sound.