Hayley Kiyoko wrote "Gravel To Tempo" as a self-empowerment anthem. She envisioned singing it to girls she had crushes on in high school who she sought validation from. Now as a wiser adult, she realizes the only validation she needs is from herself and that other people's opinions don't matter. The music video depicts her journey of self-acceptance and no longer caring what others think through symbolic imagery like dancing alone and burning pictures of the girls who's approval she once sought.

1. GRAVEL TO TEMPO

2. ‘Gravel To Tempo’, the lead single from Hayley Kiyoko’s
third EP ‘Citrine’, was written to be a self-empowering
anthem.
“From the beginning of writing that song, I envisioned
myself in front of all the girls I had crushes on in high
school,” she says. “I remember so well what it was like to
idolize other people and look for validation from them.
But then I grew up, and I realized: The only validation I
need is from myself. So many people, we are dependent
on approval, from your parents or your crushes or your
friends, and as you grow older—I’m not like this wise
man—you become wiser and realize, ‘Oh, I just need to
love myself.’ And then nobody else’s opinion really
matters.”

3. The convention of artist and title in the colour scheme of the video is adhered to.

4. The symmetrical shot makes for a powerful opening.

5. The video is set in a school, as that’s the place in which people tend to develop the
most as an individual in their early years. Most of the video is shot in slow motion,
which helps to portray the feeling of isolation.

6. The distance the subjects of the shot are from the camera symbolises the isolation
the artist feels, and how she wants to be part of a group like that.

8. Here the artist is in the shot, but she’s obscured by the line of girls. The framing could
symbolise her feeling overshadowed by the girls who she feels are superior to her.

10. Closeups of their faces follow, and it’s clear to see that they are judging her.

13. The artist then breaks out into dance, but this time she has turned away from the
girls, and the camera has switched sides. This is both a metaphorical and literal turn
away from the expectations of the girls.

15. The shot gets wider, revealing more of the artist and her true self.

16. The observers are in equal parts shock and amusement.

17. Product placement: the Beats pill. Even though the artist is surrounded by her own
friends, her attention is on the group of girls on the other table. She can’t stop
thinking about them.

18. An over-the-shoulder shot reveals the true recipients of her attention. They’re in
focus, while she herself is not.

19. The universal connotation of the mirror is self-perception and reflection. Here she
begins to reform her own self-image and to detach herself from what others expect
of her.

22. She’s set photos of the girls on fire, and is dancing in the ring they form on the
ground. This is reflective of how she finally doesn’t care what they think, and that
she’s the only one who can change other people’s perceptions of her.

26. Here, match cuts are used to fit her dancing on top of the girls’ lunch table to her
dancing in front of the flames. This strengthens the metaphor of the burning pictures,
and the low angle of the shots makes her finally seem powerful and confident.

32. Some of the girls look on in amusement.

34. More product placement: the Beats wireless headphones.

38. The last shot is an arc around the table of girls, which serves to show how their
perception of the girl has changed; she’s finally earned their respect.