From Heartache to Art: David Derman releases striking “I Know You” Music Video.
Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist David Derman has released his debut music video for the latest single “I Know You” and presents a visual masterpiece that is intimate and powerful. The music video elevates the song’s messaging which explores the heartbreak of betrayal in the disorienting moment when someone you trusted reveals a side of themselves you never expected.
“This song is about the heartbreak that comes from losing the relationship of someone you thought you truly knew,” shares Derman. “It’s about that moment when differences stop being just disagreements and start to feel like betrayals. Performing this song allows me to transform a kind of pain that I couldn’t express in plain words into something real.”
Blending poetic songwriting with raw emotion, Derman captures the haunting frustration of realizing that love and trust can quickly turn to resentment, creating a universal anthem for anyone who has experienced loss and disillusionment.
A Visual Meditation on Heartbreak
Directed with a dreamlike, surreal lens, the “I Know You” music video is a striking meditation on heartbreak, emotional burnout, and eerie detachment. Rather than following a linear storyline, the film drifts through a series of emotional states of numbness, frustration, resistance, and surrender with each scene heightening the song’s raw intensity.
The gloomy, desaturated colour palette of deep blues, greys, and muted whites is occasionally broken by warm flickers in fever-dream moments, giving the video its haunting atmosphere. From underwater falls and desperate struggles against the waves to stark solo performances in a garage and shadow-soaked bedroom fever dreams, the imagery mirrors the pain and resilience woven into the track.
Key moments include:
- Dinner Table Confrontation – The artist sits motionless while a woman paces in frustration behind him, the silence speaking louder than words.
- Underwater Fall & Waves – A slow, surrendering descent into water becomes a metaphor for emotional collapse, contrasted later by desperate attempts to stay afloat.
- Garage Performance – Stripped-back and raw, Derman plays alone under a single harsh light, a moment of clarity amidst chaos.
- Beach & Fever Dream Scenes – Soaked and stoic, he faces the crashing waves head-on; later, restless in bed, he fights his own distorted reflection in fevered dream cuts.
- Bathroom Mirror – Staring at himself in sterile lighting, he confronts an unfamiliar version of his own identity.
The result is a starkly vulnerable yet visually commanding video that deepens the emotional impact of the song.
Watch the Music Video for “I Know You” here
Music Video Credits:
Creative director: Oliver Amos ; David Derman
Producer: Oliver Amos
Editor: Oliver Amos
Actors: David Derman, Mignon Bakker
About David Derman
David Derman is a Cape Town-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose musical journey began at just six years old, inspired by his mother’s Spanish guitar playing. Music runs deep in his family, with a great-grandfather who was a renowned conductor and multi-instrumentalist.
A graduate of Rondebosch Boys High, Derman grew his natural talents into a unique voice for heartfelt storytelling. Influenced by artists like Ed Sheeran, Kaleo, Noah Kahan, and Ziggy Alberts, he blends lyrical honesty with stirring melodies that transcend genre boundaries.
Armed with degrees in Molecular Biology, Psychology, and a Masters in Wine Biotechnology, Derman is now devoting himself fully to his true passion: music. His songs reflect his journey through love, healing, and pain with music serving as a vessel for deeper truths.
Connect with David Derman:
Instagram – @david.derman
TikTok – @david.derman