Dhemo Endures The Burden Of Performance In “Get It Right” Video
More and more, musicians are pushing back against the expectation to be “content creators,” producing music and videos just to maintain a social media presence rather than focusing on the art itself. This isn’t to dismiss content creation–short-form media has its place when consumed mindfully. But music was never meant to be reduced to fleeting viral moments, no matter how many TikTok hits surface. Beneath this reality is a deeper struggle: the relentless pursuit of validation, which can drive artists into an exhausting cycle of output at the expense of genuine creativity. It’s a trade-off: quantity over quality, robbing Peter to pay Paul, however you frame it. With album cycles now shorter than blockbuster film runs, even the most successful musicians admit that the weight of modern media consumption is one of the biggest pressures they face.
For indie act Dhemo, this is all too familiar. A staple of Richmond’s live scene with their dazzling blend of funk, soul, and rock, the band has remained active, yet some fans have longed for new music following their sublime 2022 album Spinning In Place. Three years isn’t an unheard-of gap between records, but in an era where algorithms favor constant output, even a few weeks of silence can feel like a disappearance. The industry’s unspoken mantra–“What have you done for me lately?”–looms over artists navigating this landscape. But rather than rushing to keep up with the demand for endless content, Dhemo has taken a more intentional path with their next record, now previewed through a trio of singles, including the music video for “Get It Right.” The track directly confronts these challenges, tackling the pressures of hollow validation and nonstop output with incisive lyricism and an infectious groove.
“Eyes stare at me with harsh sight,” the song begins, immediately framing a tense dynamic of scrutiny and impossible expectations in performance. “I’ll dance how you want day and night,” it continues, before relenting with “Yeah, I’ll get it right,” a line that distills the exhaustion of constant pressure—both emotional and physical. The delivery is light, almost dismissive, like the casual “not too bad” response when asked how you’re holding up. Musically, the track mirrors this contrast, with an airy piano glissando bookending a laid-back groove that radiates warmth, softening the weight of its underlying tension.
Later in the song, the lyrics take a darker turn–“On my knees\ Anything to make you smile” and “Over and over still\ Nothing’s enough”–laying bare a relentless exhaustion that feels impossible to escape. The video, directed by David Muessig, visually amplifies this struggle, following Dhemo vocalist and guitarist Jake Adams as he drifts through an empty baroque-style house, singing while battling heavy eyelids. Rubbing his eyes and splashing water on his face prove futile, leaving him to reach for a mysterious vial of eyedrops—marked with the same crimson logo featured across Dhemo’s 2025 singles. The solution works, but not in the way he expects, offering a sharp artistic commentary on the way we push ourselves past our limits until there’s nothing left inside to give.
Alongside Adams, Dhemo features Alex Gary on drums, Ryan Gary on bass, and Nate Clark on keys & synth, all of whom help elevate “Get It Right” from a breezy refrain into a layered reflection on performative expectations. The track is the second of three singles Dhemo has released in 2025, alongside “That Doubt” and “Forward,” all leading up to their newly announced album, Chasing Smiles, set for release on April 3rd, followed by an album release show at The Camel on April 5th. After a three-year wait, the news is a welcome return, but with the message of “Get It Right” still ringing true, here’s hoping this album lingers far beyond the churn of social media cycles.
“Get It Right” is now available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify and Bandcamp. Stay connected with Dhemo on social media for the latest updates on the release of Chasing Smiles, and don’t forget to mark your calendar for the album release show–details on the flyer below!
