AikJ Drops Poetic New Video For “Break it Off”

Dublin-based alt-pop/R&B artist AikJ today releases a captivating new music video for single “Break it Off”. Director Paul Luchian brings to life just the sort of toxic relationship portrayed through “Break it Off” in this high-concept, exceptionally artistic work.

“Break it Off” features AikJ’s emotive vocals over a slick amalgamation of soulful alt-pop and R&B, as he urges a lover to “Break it Off” with a manipulative and apathetic man. In the video, AikJ takes on the role of this man, working alongside Raluca Mara to depict that relationship, in which he is the puppeteer and she is the puppet. Between the vastly different worlds of a dark “mind palace” and a gorgeous mountain valley, the two are tightly bound together by ropes to represent their strong connection which leaves them feeling restrained, caged, and captive. A woman with a scarring past, Raluca’s character can only find love through pain. As he tries to pull away, she is that much more enticed by a sense of being controlled, and thus she pulls back. Their interaction suggests a sort of emotional and sensual depravity in their relationship which is ultimately burned away in a dazzling blaze which finally sets them from each other. The breathtaking landscape of Rimetea, Romania serves as the gorgeously bleak backdrop.

“Break It Off” is taken from AikJ’s upcoming EP 1992, which will be released later this Spring. AikJ’s talents have not gone unnoticed as the artist was featured by Red Bull Music who included him in their “7 of the most lit acts in Irish hip-hop right now”. Having released last single “Heights” in back in 2017, “Break it Off” marks a return for AikJ, already with over 27K streams to date. The track was featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday UK, the Shazam Recommends playlist and premiered exclusively on Earmilk, who heralded the track as “[ushering in] a new phase” for Aik, that “showcases him in his most organic form.” AikJ continues to use his talents to propel the music of Irish artists into the mainstream.