Bundle Drum Sheet & Video – K’s Choice – Not An Addict

“Not an Addict” by K’s Choice is a quietly intense exploration of personal truth — a song that whispers with urgency rather than shouts. Released in 1995 on Paradise in Me, it became the band’s signature track, known for its emotionally charged lyrics, sparse yet atmospheric production, and the aching honesty at its core. It doesn’t follow a dramatic arc — instead, it stays suspended in a state of emotional tension, like a confession caught halfway between fear and freedom.

At the heart of the song lies a duality: the illusion of control versus the reality of dependence. The repeated line “It’s not a habit, it’s cool, I feel alive” functions almost like self-persuasion — part protest, part plea. Sam Bettens (then Sarah) delivers the lyrics with a voice that’s restrained but heavy with feeling, managing to be both delicate and defiant. You can hear every breath, every tremor, as if the words are being discovered in real time.

The instrumentation around that voice is subtle and deliberate. Gert Bettens’ guitar work shimmers with delay and space, never overplaying, just coloring the emotional landscape. But the drums — courtesy of Bart Van Der Zeeuw — play a crucial role. They don’t just keep time; they create mood. From the meditative tom groove that opens the track to the understated accents during the chorus, the drumming mirrors the song’s emotional ebb and flow. It’s restraint with impact — an example of how less can be much, much more.

There’s something timeless about “Not an Addict.” It captures the fog of confusion that surrounds addiction, but more broadly, it speaks to anyone wrestling with contradiction — with wanting to feel alive while knowing that feeling might come at a cost. Decades later, it still resonates not just as a ‘90s alt-rock staple, but as a human moment captured in song.