The Yesters – Freak Show (2026)
A couple of years ago, The Other Side Reviews came across filmmaker and musician Alyssa Rallo Bennett with her solo musical project; today, we’re excited to come across her again. Raised in a creative family, Bennett found a passion for creative expression early on and pursued it with zealous fervour, her visual and musical style digging deep into the “…psychology of the human spirit and heart… and the desire to tell intimate stories a bit closer to the bone.” Come along as we look at her latest musical endeavour, The Yesters, and the video for ‘Freak Show’.
In the music video for ‘Freak Show’, the latest single from The Yesters, singer-songwriter Alyssa Rallo Bennett plays the role of the song’s protagonist, Irene – a person struggling with substance addiction. Bennett wanders a city alleyway, heading away from her expensive car in stylish clothes as a creepy vaudevillian flute melody sets the tone. Gary Bennett’s flute creates uncertainty while director Toon De Melker drops us into this world with an effective long take.
Over cabaret rock ’n’ roll, Bennett portrays a battered, malnourished addict: “My name is Irene, I’m new on the scene/I’m out on the street, blood and socks on my feet”. Yet, The Yesters use stock images of one kind of addict while having us watch a well-dressed, wealthy woman in her place – a narrative strictly noting that Irene’s health continues. Special effects manifest a group of circus performers who stop Bennett in her tracks, crowd her and nearly seduce her to join them. In a press release, the band say that ‘Freak Show’, “tells the story of a woman navigating addiction… as a constant negotiation with a world that both entices and judges her”, but constant negotiations aren’t present, nor are the temptations and judgments.
The band add that the video “transforms that internal conflict into a surreal, carnival-like landscape”. As the performers are joined by protesters, matching editing depicts Irene being mobbed by her inner conflict, but the lyrics don’t reveal her plight; they assume judgment. Without more details in the songwriting, understanding of Irene’s plight is unachievable.
Finally, our lead and performers show up in group therapy. The interactions suggest these performers represent Bennett’s words: “I’m young, and I’m old/ my body can’t make up its mind”, but special effects contradict the attempt to represent inner turmoil by giving these performers individuality. The subtlety of the metaphor and the lack of consistency in storytelling distract.
Overall, The Yesters’ music video for ‘Freak Show’ is well-crafted, but the video and song end up unrelated.
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Find out more about The Yesters on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Emily Keefe PR.
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