Johnny Cash’s Hurt(first verse)

I hurt myself todayto see if I still feelI focus on the painthe only thing that's realthe needle tears a holethe old familiar stingtry to kill it all awaybut I remember everythingwhat have I become?my sweetest friendeveryone I knowgoes away in the endand you could have it allmy empire of dirt

(From official music video)

This very short (one second) shot that I took from the music video was my basis for my whole visual aesthetic. First and foremost, this song was an interpretation of the Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt.” Their original version fell mostly on the use of drugs, while Johnny Cash (and I) chose the metaphor of reminiscence of the past in relation to nearing the end of life. This image, ironically, was meant to reflect the times he did spend in jail- once due to trafficking narcotics.