In the Atlanta-based artist’s latest video, shades of neon accompany hindsight following an ill-fated relationship.
Grandma’s “Shallow Water” embodies the concept of hindsight. A man looks back at his choices, deciding what he should have done while addressing what there is still left to do. Grandma is concerned about his humanity being respected, but he is limited by the bullshit conglomeration of best guesses and common denominators that is the world. Do with it what you can.
When someone makes a promise and they don’t keep it, what happens next? Does one roll over and take it at face value, or put up an impressive shield to prevent you from further harm? Grandma’s newest music video for “Shallow Water” examines this concept from an incredibly selfish, yet brutally honest perspective.
Atlanta’s versatile artist Grandma starts with a full-on assault driven through nostalgic synths straight from the burnt-out neon sign of your favorite dive bar. Grabbing the mic to croon out his tale of woe as the on-screen image is distorted, he makes you feel instantly apprehensive of his own words. However, an arm eventually reaches out; we hear a confession from a person who wants to be understood. This person respects your desires, but the duality of this realization does not prevent hurt from being held at a distance. His response, while coming from a place of pain, makes sense for a person who no longer believes all that they’re told. As the visuals shift to reveal a world turned upside down, we’re shown a slight portion of the hurt left in Grandma’s heart.
Visually, we are shown multiple people comforting the hero of the song: shining, fluffing, readjusting. After all, who doesn’t need a hand sometimes? This is the point at which Grandma admits that he has a story he needs to tell — a story that most of us can really relate to. The vulnerability of this action, while slight, speaks volumes when compared to similar artists who put up a hard front.
The chorus serves as the death rattle of a relationship. The strong language shares perspective on the the crux of the relationship at hand: betrayal. Right or wrong, we can all admit that we have encountered this feeling. Whether or not the emotion sticks, the absence of someone who we thought would be with us forever stings a great deal.
However, Grandma’s hurt doesn’t just reflect anger, but also an acceptance for what he learned. The last visual of the chorus attempts to dissolve this perspective, showing that the protagonist knows nothing at all. This self-awareness shows an understanding of his bias. We digress through a smooth synth riff, rung out by the man of the hour:
It didn’t take me a day to drive all this way just so we can sleepwalk / It’s speeding, ain’t a crime on I-59 just to hear your folks talk / I hear you but maybe there’s nothing to say, uh / If I felt you, you treat me so passe
With anger rising, Grandma shares more details of his relationship. The thought of being subject to a situation in which the other party is on running autopilot is a nightmare emerging in countless dreams. Whether it be parents, friends, or our partners, we have all found ourselves victims to this experience. Despite a belief of knowing better, we think we can change dangerous warning signs. Ego can keep us going, but most of the time, it is a brutal blinder to our self-worth. The chorus becomes the only solace in this self-contained argument.
In an absurd form of care, the next verse is dedicated to his loved one by his future self. There cannot be progress without communication. One stalls as the clock ticks forward, but before you know it, you’re in the last place you wanted to be. A soliloquy to inaction, Grandma’s final verse serves as a beacon for his current self to avoid the path most often traveled. It is a warning that although confrontation may be frightening, inaction is literally paralyzing to growth.
Dearly beloved / I’ll save you the trip / Because you and I both know / That this ain’t it
Grandma very clearly brings a level of thought and artistry to his work that makes him absolutely distinct. View the full video below to experience his craft.