Los Angeles-based riser ILIA unveiled the music video for ‘Gasoline,’ a brooding, reimagined take on the Halsey hit.
Blending shadow-soaked atmospherics with explosive alternative rock intensity, ILIA’s interpretation of ‘Gasoline’ amplifies the emotional volatility of the original while reframing it through his signature guitar-driven lens. The result is both familiar and strikingly transformed – a version that leans into distortion, dynamic tension, and cinematic scale without sacrificing intimacy.
Listeners have drawn comparisons between ILIA’s sound and the textured alt-rock of Placebo, the expansive sonics of The Smashing Pumpkins, and the brooding experimentation of Nine Inch Nails. There are echoes, too, of Radioheadand Muse — artists known for balancing arena-sized ambition with raw emotional undercurrents. Yet ILIA’s approach remains distinctly his own, merging industrial textures with alternative grit and modern production techniques.
His musical journey began in Seattle in the early 2000s, where he performed in numerous bands, including The Hills Have Eyes alongside Thomas Erak of The Fall of Troy, before founding Red Museum. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2008, ILIA briefly collaborated with David Silveria of Korn.
In 2012, he partnered with Universal recording artist Keely Julian to form the electro-pop duo ILIA AND KEELY, releasing the singles ‘Why’ and ‘Come Back Around.’ While that project showcased a polished, synth-forward sensibility, ILIA would later pivot toward a heavier, guitar-centric sound.
A significant chapter unfolded in 2018 when he joined the platinum-selling industrial rock band Orgy as guitarist, further cementing his standing within the alternative rock community. In spring 2024, he was selected as one of ten finalists to audition for The Smashing Pumpkins — a nod to both his technical prowess and industry reputation.
By fall 2024, ILIA had recommitted fully to his solo career, releasing three EPs and a series of visually striking videos that signaled a bold creative resurgence. The Great Deep represents the culmination of that renewed focus, with ‘Gasoline’ serving as one of its most emotionally charged and sonically daring moments.
As ILIA continues his prolific streak, ‘Gasoline’ stands as more than a cover — it is a statement of artistic identity. With seasoned musicianship and an uncompromising vision, he pushes deeper into a sound that fuses industrial tension, alternative rock muscle, and cinematic storytelling.
