New York City-based duo Refs’ debut song “Pain Goes Away” is a catchy, soaring bit of alternative pop—the sort of song that fits snugly in a post-Lorde/Joel Little landscape in which tasteful production and well-manicured eclecticism are as important as keeping things straight forward and catering to the lowest-common-denominator. To give “Pain Goes Away” added life beyond the pack of Hypem hopefuls, director Sam Hamad crafted a darkly humorous, sharply executed visual treatment—hard to disentangle from the song even after one viewing.
“The song is about being in love with someone, who may not love you back,” says Refs member Zachary Andrew. “For the video, we wanted to do something simple, based around the concept of being always connected but feeling isolated. In New York, it’s easy to feel that way.”
