Cape Town-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist David Derman recently released his brand-new single, “I Know You.” At once intimate and powerful, “I Know You” dives into the heartbreak of betrayal in that disorienting moment when someone you loved and trusted reveals a side of themselves you never expected.
“This song is about the heartbreak that comes from losing the relationship of someone you thought you truly knew,” shares Derman. “It’s about that moment when differences stop being just disagreements and start to feel like betrayals. Performing this song allows me to transform a kind of pain that I couldn’t express in plain words into something real.”
Blending poetic songwriting with raw emotion, Derman captures the haunting frustration of realizing that love and trust can quickly turn to resentment, creating a universal anthem for anyone who has experienced loss and disillusionment.
Directed through a surreal, dreamlike lens, the music video for “I Know You” unfolds as a haunting exploration of heartbreak, emotional exhaustion, and eerie disconnection. Rather than telling a traditional story, it drifts through fragmented emotional states – numbness, frustration, resistance, and eventual surrender—each scene amplifying the song’s raw tension and vulnerability.
Visually, the video’s muted palette of deep blues, greys, and washed-out whites evokes a sense of quiet despair, punctuated by fleeting bursts of warmth in fever-dream sequences. The imagery swings between underwater descents, solitary performances, and claustrophobic dreamscapes – each moment reflecting the track’s struggle between pain and persistence.
Standout moments include:
- Dinner Table Confrontation: The artist remains still as a woman paces behind him in silent anger—the absence of dialogue more piercing than words.
- Underwater Fall & Waves: A slow descent beneath the surface becomes a metaphor for emotional collapse, countered later by frantic attempts to resurface.
- Garage Performance: Bathed in a single harsh light, Derman delivers a stripped-back performance—a fleeting moment of clarity amid the chaos.
- Beach & Fever Dream Scenes: Soaked and stoic, he faces crashing waves head-on; later, trapped in restless dream cuts, he battles his own distorted reflection.
- Bathroom Mirror: Under sterile lighting, he confronts an unrecognisable version of himself—a stark reckoning with identity and loss.
The result is a visually arresting, emotionally raw film that expands the depth of “I Know You,” transforming its pain into something both beautiful and unnerving.
Watch the music video below:
David Derman’s Musical Journey is rooted in Family and Passion
David Derman is a Cape Town-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose musical journey began at just six years old, inspired by his mother’s Spanish guitar playing.
Music runs deep in his family, with a great-grandfather who was a renowned conductor and multi-instrumentalist.
His school years at Rondebosch Boys High refined his natural talents and gave him the confidence to hone his voice and storytelling.
Today, he draws inspiration from artists such as Ed Sheeran, Kaleo, Noah Kahan, and Ziggy Alberts, weaving together heartfelt lyrics with stirring melodies.
Rejecting the confines of genre, David Derman focuses on the exploration of storytelling in all its textures and emotional colours. His songs reflect his journey of healing, love, and pain, with music serving as a vessel for deeper truths.
With degrees in Molecular Biology, Psychology, and a Masters in Wine Biotechnology, David is now dedicating himself fully to his lifelong dream: recording and sharing the music he has been quietly writing for years.
You can stream/download “I Know You” HERE.
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