Haley Pharo – “Prisoner” (video) (Premiere)

Singer and songwriter Haley Pharo crafts pop music that’s clearly inspired by the Dr. Luke school of production, as the latest video from her recently self-titled album attests. The kinetic visuals and rapid-fire instrumentation of “Prisoner” make for a thrilling musical ride, one grounded in a strong performance by Pharo.

Pharo tells PopMatters the story behind both the music and the video for “Prisoner”: “‘Prisoner; was a song I wrote on a plane. In writing it I realized it was a cry for help to myself. I was allowing my heart to harden, acting as my own worst enemy in a sense. I had begun building walls so tall that I wasn’t letting anyone truly know me and as a result left me feeling very lonely. I believe we’re relational beings and not meant to shut other out regardless of past experience. The concept here was merely that. To fulfill the feelings I wanted met, I was going to have to push down these emotional barriers and let others in. It was a song that really taught me a lot about myself and evoked some change in who I wanted to be.

“When the director and I spoke about this video I really loved the idea of being trapped in space. Being lost in this floating feeling really hit me and was an outside the box approach to being a prisoner in a sense. Having people try to reach you, but you’re lost in this other world.”

Pharo’s self-titled album is out now.