“Transforming / Clouds and the winds forming / See them man informing / They know that I’m transforming”
Transforming is the final track of KSI‘s self-released EP Space, and arguably the most introspective. It follows, then, that the accompanying music video would be the darkest and most symbolic one yet.
Directed by David Donihue, the music video contains a wealth of imagery, with KSI at points buried in sand, suspended upside down among a multitude nameless bodies. At other times his face is distorted and blurred like pixels on a defective computer screen.
Transforming is far mellower than the tracks that preceded it, featuring Drake-style melodies over an ambient, downtempo beat.
The lyrics centre (unsurprisingly) around the idea of transformation, with KSI questioning and trying to move away from the persona people know him for: “Think that they know me / They don’t know shit about me / Fuck what they feeling / I’ll be who I wanna be”. This is visually represented in a scene where shards of glass are heading towards him, only to reverse and fly away again.
KSI also touches on the reason for his long absence from YouTube, talking about the pressure having such a huge following online in the very honest lyrics: “I did this for my sanity / Cos I was reaching levels so uncontrollable / None promotional / International thoughts / Travelling to chill with my thoughts / Simple thing a break from all the worshipping”.
Overall, the track seems to represent the breakdown of KSI’s public image after struggles with his mental health, and his determination to keep moving forward. The video closes with KSI looking up to the sky, standing on a beach (which is now the right way up). The colours have returned and he is now able to move freely.
As he says in his lyrics: “I’ll be who I wanna be / Came from the north side / Dreaming of all that I could be / I’m for the long ride”.
Transforming is definitely our favourite track from Space, and our favourite music video from KSI so far. We hope to see much more like this.
Want more?
Read all about Jake Dunn‘s gritty, surreal short film The Complex, or if you’re feeling in the mood for a laugh, step into the Star Wars universe with Jake Dudman‘s flawless and hilarious impressions!
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