There’s a particular kind of ambition that reveals itself not in grand gestures, but in consistency, in the slow, deliberate construction of something immersive. ILIA’s latest release, the video for “Gasoline,” is a perfect example. On the surface, it’s a cover. In practice, it’s another meticulously placed piece in a larger, evolving puzzle.
Since launching The Great Deep last March, ILIA has approached each release like a filmmaker rather than a traditional musician. “Gasoline,” originally a sharp-edged pop confession, is reworked here into a shadowy, industrial meditation, its emotional core intact but its atmosphere completely transformed.
This isn’t reinvention for novelty’s sake. It’s part of a broader artistic language ILIA has been refining, one that merges sound design with visual storytelling. His previous video, “The Ones You Think You Own,” hinted at this ambition with its carefully curated setting and cinematic tone. Shot inside Shane Black’s storied residence, the piece blurred the line between music video and psychological short film, drawing subtle parallels to the unease of Gone Girl and the offbeat noir of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
With “Gasoline,” ILIA pushes further into that space. The visual palette feels colder, more restrained, yet no less intense. There’s an almost literary quality to the imagery, like scenes pulled from a dream you can’t quite shake. The influence of Kubrick’s precision is there, as is the lingering, melancholic dread reminiscent of modern gothic storytelling. But what’s most striking is how cohesive it all feels within ILIA’s own narrative framework.
That sense of cohesion is hard-earned. His journey, from Seattle’s underground circuit to Los Angeles’ ever-shifting music scene, has been anything but linear. Early collaborations, including work alongside members of The Fall of Troy and Korn, gave him a wide sonic vocabulary. Later, his electro-pop project ILIA AND KEELY revealed a knack for melody and texture. And his role in ORGY brought him back into the industrial rock spotlight, reinforcing his credentials as both a performer and a craftsman.
Yet it’s this current chapter that feels the most intentional. After stepping back into solo work in late 2024, ILIA has moved with clarity, releasing a steady stream of music and visuals that feel interconnected, almost serialised. Even his near-miss audition for The Smashing Pumpkins reads less like a detour and more like validation: proof that his skillset resonates at the highest levels.
“Gasoline” fits neatly into that narrative while still standing on its own. It’s a reminder that ILIA isn’t chasing trends—he’s building something slower, stranger, and ultimately more lasting. With another single and video already on the horizon, and a major tour looming with ORGY alongside Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson, the pace isn’t slowing down.
If anything, ILIA seems to be digging deeper, into his influences, his sound, and the cinematic world he’s quietly constructing piece by piece. And if The Great Deep is any indication, we’re only just beginning to see how far it goes.
“With ‘Gasoline,’ ILIA takes a song that already carries emotional volatility and pushes it into a darker, more cinematic space,” says Danielle Holian, publicist for Decent Music PR. “This release really showcases where he is creatively right now, fearless, guitar-forward, and visually uncompromising. After the momentum he’s built over the past year, this video feels like a defining moment for the project.”
