September 28, 2022 (Los Angeles, CA) – After releasing a string of punchy new wave singles ("Hide," "New You," "Scream 4 Love" and “Lucky”) Basic Elements returns with their most ambitious track yet. “Shakin’” is 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 previous releases, 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 fit right in with the forthcoming Life Moves Pretty Fast – The John Hughes Mixtapes box set. The band’s authentic ‘80s sound is what caught the ear of VMA winning director, Chris Applebaum (Rihanna, Fountains of Wayne, Britney Spears), who pitched the idea of doing an homage to The Breakfast Club for the band’s first foray into music videos.

 

Despite the opportunity to work with such a prestigious director, Basic Elements took a step back for the video to present the song in the context in which it was written – rebellious teenage angst. Rather than star in the video themselves, the band 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 are featured prominently as Manson Girls in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (the former also stars in the music video, “Caution” by The Killers and 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 teen, 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’ was 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.”