Video Drum Cover – K’s Choice – Not An Addict

Not an Addict by K’s Choice is a haunting and introspective alt-rock anthem that emerged from the mid-90s with rare emotional honesty and sonic restraint. Released in 1995 on the album Paradise in Me, the song blends vulnerability, raw instrumentation, and quiet power to deliver a message that’s as relevant today as it was at its release. At its core, it’s a song about denial and inner conflict, told through lyrics that are simultaneously defiant and fragile.

The heartbeat of Not an Addict is its drumming — a performance that might go unnoticed to the casual listener, but one that plays a critical role in shaping the track’s emotional trajectory. Bart Van Der Zeeuw’s drumming is restrained and atmospheric, avoiding showiness in favor of feel and texture. The tom-driven intro sets a moody and tense tone, almost like a slow, contemplative pulse. Rather than dominating the arrangement, the drums move underneath it, surfacing at key moments to elevate the vocal delivery and dynamic shifts.

The song itself was born from a deeply personal place. Siblings Sam and Gert Bettens wrote it during a period of emotional searching, with Sam drawing from personal struggles with control, identity, and dependence. That sense of duality — “It’s not a habit, it’s cool, I feel alive” — became the lyrical center around which the rest of the track was built. Gert’s minimalistic guitar work leaves room for mood and silence, while Sam’s vocals carry both strength and vulnerability.

Behind the scenes, the band worked to preserve the emotional rawness of the song. Recorded at Jet Studios in Brussels with producer Jean Blaute, the track’s production avoids polish in favor of honesty. You can hear it in the slightly room-washed snare, the soft attack of the toms, and the absence of overproduction — all of which make the track feel human and close.

Over time, Not an Addict became K’s Choice’s breakout song, bringing them onto international stages and connecting with audiences from Europe to the U.S. In live performances, the drum part sometimes varied in intensity but always kept its meditative core. For any drummer interested in the emotional side of groove and dynamics, this track remains a masterclass in letting the song lead — and in using the drums to tell the story, quietly and powerfully.