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The Japanese House returns with breathtaking new video for "Lilo". The video depicts a relationship falling apart. The video features Amber Bain (aka The Japanese House) and Marika Hackman, Amber's ex and who the song is about. Amber made the decision to have her ex in the video because it added to the realness of the situation. She thought it would catch the intimacy and love they shared. The song is truly beautiful. It's soothing and heartbreaking. The softness of the song lends to the sorrowful feeling of the song. It's exceptionally well done. While the song makes me feel a sort of sadness, I still want to listen to it over and over. I feel like we can all relate to this song in some capacity, whether with the loss of a romantic relationship or the loss of a family member, we can all relate to the feeling of losing someone we once had but is now gone. What I find interesting is the title, "Lilo". I am particularly taken to the title since Lilo and Stitch is one of my favorite movies and that is my first thought. The word Lilo has multiple meanings. After a quick google search, three pop out to me. Lilo can mean "generous one", lost, or a branding of a type of rubber/plastic bed. I at first thought the bed definition was irrelevant, however, Amber is seen floating on a slowly deflating bed in the middle of the ocean, likely a symbol of the sinking relationship and her feeling like she is sinking. She also says in the song "floating like a lilo". There is a clear connection. Then there is the lost meaning. My thought is that it is called "Lilo" because she is feeling lost without her ex, who she seemed to rely on to some degree. If this is the reason, then the title adds to that melancholy feeling of the song. Maybe using Lilo is a play on words, floating on a lilo and feeling lost.
The video is beautifully done. It follows the two through some snapshots of their life. You can slowly see how they are falling out of love. Neither want to, you see them trying to maintain the relationship. It perfectly shows the falling of a relationship, even when you don't want it to fall out. It's slow, silent, and not easy for either parties. I think the use of her ex makes the video all the more powerful. You can clearly see one falling out of the relationship while the other is not and still in love. The use of a real relationship and real feelings makes the video all the more beautiful and powerful. It's hard to not feel a slight pain for the couple. It's also a very simple video. There is nothing super flashy or over the top. It's simple and I think it perfectly aligns with the song and the feelings associated with it. I think this video is art honestly. Words cannot express the beauty of this video. Extremely well done.
Check out this beautifully heartbreaking video and show The Japanese House some love! If you love them, check them out on tour, starting December 1st in California!