Basic Elements release new video “Shakin’”

11 Nov 2023

2–3 minutes

Basic Elements, indie, los angeles, new wave

Basic Elements delivers their most accomplished feat yet with the premiere of “Shakin’” a raucous romp featuring shades of Violent Femmes and Sparks with playful, wry lyrics and a singalong chorus that stays in your head long after the track’s tight 3:26 runtime. Like the band’s prior releases (“Hide,” “New You,” “Scream 4 Love” and “Lucky”), Basic Elements originally wrote the song in 1985 (when its members were in their teens) so it’s no coincidence “Shakin’” sounds like it would feel right at home in a John Hughes film. The band’s authentic ‘80s sound is what caught the ear of VMA winning director, Chris Applebaum ( Rihanna, Britney, Fountains of Wayne, The Struts), who pitched the idea of doing an homage to The Breakfast Club to capture the essence of the track.

Despite their excitement to work with an iconic music video director like Applebaum, Basic Elements took a step back to present the song in the context in which it was written – rebellious teenage angst. Rather than star in the video themselves, they made the video a family affair, casting their own daughters to represent an all-girl version of Basic Elements, including bass player William Bowling’s two daughters, Kansas and Parker, both of whom play Manson Girls in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (the former also stars in the music video, “Caution” by The Killersand has directed her own music videos for Death Valley Girls and Collapsing Scenery). Together, along with synth player, Jonathan Goldman’s two teenage girls, and Applebaum’s own tween, the quintet perfectly mend the gap between Gen-X and Gen-Z, which is what Basic Elements’ music is all about. According to Applebaum, “I loved “Shakin’” the second I heard it, but it wasn’t until my kid said it was “cool” that I knew I had to make this video.” Singer, John Denis, says: “Shakin’ is all about trying to play it cool even though you’re dying on the inside 100 times a day. I think every kid can relate to that, plus some adults.”

Basic Elements is a music project 30 years in the making. Produced by Ed Buller ( Suede, Pulp, Psychedelic Furs) and most recently, Mark Howard ( U2, Iggy Pop, R.E.M.) they made a name for themselves in the unheralded ‘80s Arizona post-punk music scene. The band played alongside local legends like Gin Blossoms, Gentlemen Afterdark and Caterwaul and opened for larger touring acts like Bolshoi and Gene Loves Jezebel, all while maintaining an average age of just 17-years old. Basic Elements disbanded in 1991 — well before any of them could legally enter a bar. After a few decades pursuing separate careers the band has resurrected itself in Los Angeles.