L.F.T., the Hamburg- and Berlin-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, unveils his new music video “Free Cigarettes.”
Taken from his latest double album Hell Was Boring via
Mannequin Records, the track delves into the personal battles and inner struggles we all carry.
The Free Cigarettes video presents L.F.T.’s vision of inner conflict in striking black-and-white visuals, blending stark imagery with a hint of spaghetti western style. It was created in collaboration with director Levente Pavelka.
We are proud to premiere the full video exclusively here on KEYI Magazine.
YOUTUBE link!
Ahead of our exclusive premiere, we spoke with L.F.T. about the single “Free Cigarettes” and the inspiration behind its music video.
1. Could you tell us what inspired “Free Cigarettes” and what the track means?
“Free Cigarettes” is about the inner demons we all carry the ones we fight, and the ones we sometimes surrender to. It reflects the constant struggle between doing what’s right and doing what’s easy, choosing selfishness over altruism, or giving in to momentary pleasure instead of doing what’s best for ourselves.
The line
“Sitting on my deck with a shotgun, I thought I had a bullet, but I had none, nothing’s for the demons to slay, I run away”
captures this feeling perfectly. It shows, metaphorically, that you may be ready to confront your demons, but sometimes you simply don’t have the strength so you retreat, even when you don’t want to.
I was inspired to write this song because of personal struggles that continue to challenge me. In music, and in life in general, it often feels difficult to choose the harder, better path to put in the extra effort instead of taking the easy way out. And sometimes it even seems like the easy way brings more immediate rewards than the hard work.
So I wrote this song as a reminder to everyone that you’re not alone in these feelings and as an encouragement to keep pushing yourself. It’s always worth challenging yourself, in whatever way you can.
2. What made you choose a black and white spaghetti western style for the music video?
The idea for the video came to me intuitively once the song was finished. The guitar driven bassline together with the sharp, saturated synthesizers immediately evoked the feeling of a “western showdown.”
At the beginning, you see me walking through the forest, constantly pursued by my inner demon a visible presence that never leaves my side.
The dark, oppressive atmosphere reflects the weight of persistent self doubt.
The horse scene was directly inspired by the old Marlboro / Philip Morris commercials. There’s something strangely fascinating about riding a horse this powerful symbol of life and strength while chainsmoking cigarettes that could eventually kill you.
That contradiction has always amused me.
In the final scene, after I ride off into the horizon, the demon remains. He’s still there, and he always will be right until the end.
I’m so happy with how Levente Pavelka brought these ideas to life in this video. His precision and patience in capturing the perfect shot were truly inspiring.
It was a pleasure working with him, and I’m sure this won’t be the last time we collaborate on a film together.
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follow Mannequin Records on IG & the director Levente Pavelka
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