Tiësto – The Business (Official Music Video): Story, Meaning and Music
“The Business” by Tiësto is one of the most recognizable dance tracks associated with the Dutch DJ and producer’s modern era. Released in September 2020, the song combines a catchy house-oriented production with a distinctive vocal performance and an unusual music video that turns a relationship story into something visually surprising and memorable.
The official music video was released on September 24, 2020, through Tiësto’s official YouTube channel. It was directed by Christian Breslauer and stars Casey Frey and Kyla Bullings.
Watch the Official Music Video
Song: The Business
Artist: Tiësto
Release: 2020
Genre: Dance / house
Director: Christian Breslauer
Starring: Casey Frey and Kyla Bullings
Official YouTube publisher: Tiësto
Official YouTube video: Watch Tiësto – The Business (Official Music Video)
Video credit: The original video belongs to Tiësto and the relevant music/video rights holders. The official YouTube upload is published on Tiësto’s Official Artist Channel. The video’s description credits Christian Breslauer as director and Casey Frey and Kyla Bullings as the featured performers.
The Story of “The Business”
At the heart of “The Business” is a relationship that has become complicated. The song’s narrator appears to be reaching a point where continuing the same cycle is no longer sustainable.
Rather than presenting romance as a simple happy story, the song explores uncertainty, repeated arguments, emotional frustration, and the desire for a final opportunity to resolve things.
The repeated central phrase gives the track an immediately recognizable hook. It creates a feeling of urgency, as though the characters need to stop going around in circles and finally address the situation.
This combination of an upbeat dance production and emotionally complicated subject matter is one of the reasons the song stands out.
A Dance Track With an Emotional Story
Dance music is often associated with parties, clubs, festivals, and energetic environments. “The Business” demonstrates that dance music can also communicate more personal emotions.
The production is polished and rhythmic, but the underlying story involves relationship tension.
This creates an interesting contrast.
The listener can enjoy the track as an energetic dance record while also recognizing the emotional conflict within its subject matter.
The song was released as a single in September 2020 and later became associated with Tiësto’s album DRIVE. Music databases list the track at approximately two minutes and forty-four seconds.
Tiësto’s Production Style
Tiësto has spent decades working across different areas of electronic dance music. “The Business” demonstrates his ability to create a production that is accessible without losing its electronic identity.
The track uses a streamlined arrangement, a strong rhythmic foundation, electronic textures, and a vocal hook that remains easy to remember.
According to published music credits, Tiësto is credited as a producer and performer, while HIGHTOWER is also credited in production. The songwriting credits include Tijs Verwest, James Bell, Julia Karlsson, and Anton Rundberg.
The vocal performance is credited to YAMI in music-industry databases, while James Bell is also listed in the composition and performance credits.
The Unusual Official Music Video
The music video is perhaps as memorable as the song itself.
Instead of simply showing Tiësto performing in a studio or presenting a conventional romantic story, the video follows two central characters and incorporates dance, surreal elements, humor, and an unexpected narrative development.
Casey Frey plays the male character, while Kyla Bullings plays the female character. The two performers bring a theatrical and physical quality to the video.
Christian Breslauer’s direction gives the video a distinctive visual personality, helping it stand apart from conventional electronic-music videos.
Casey Frey’s Performance
Casey Frey’s performance became an especially memorable element of the video.
His expressive dancing gives the character an exaggerated personality. The choreography is not simply decorative; it helps communicate the character’s emotions and eccentricity.
The dancing also creates a connection between the music and the story.
Instead of relying entirely on dialogue, the video uses body movement and facial expression to communicate the relationship between the characters.
This is particularly effective for a dance track because the movement feels naturally connected to the music.
The Role of Kyla Bullings
Kyla Bullings provides the other central performance in the video.
Her character helps establish the relationship dynamic around which the story develops. Together, the two performers create a strange but engaging visual narrative that moves beyond a straightforward love story.
The contrast between their characters contributes to the video’s entertainment value and gives viewers something to interpret beyond the song itself.
A Story About Relationships and Change
One of the broader themes of “The Business” is the difficulty of remaining in a relationship that repeatedly produces the same problems.
The narrator recognizes that repeating the same behavior cannot continue forever.
This idea can be interpreted in several ways.
A relationship may require communication, change, honesty, or a decision about whether both people are willing to move forward. The song does not present an elaborate philosophical argument, but its emotional premise is recognizable.
Many people have experienced relationships in which the same conversations, disagreements, and promises happen repeatedly.
That makes the central theme relatable even though the music video presents it in an exaggerated and surreal manner.
Why the Song Became So Memorable
There are several factors behind the enduring recognition of “The Business.”
A Strong Hook
The song has a highly recognizable central vocal phrase. Its repetition makes it easy to remember after only a few listens.
Dance-Friendly Production
The electronic production gives the track an immediate rhythmic identity suitable for clubs, parties, workouts, and social-media videos.
Distinctive Music Video
The unusual video gives the song a visual identity that listeners can easily associate with the track.
Strong Character Performances
Casey Frey and Kyla Bullings provide performances that make the video feel more like a short visual story than a conventional promotional clip.
International Accessibility
The song’s electronic production and relatively simple lyrical concept allow it to connect with listeners who may come from different countries and musical backgrounds.
The Song’s Place in Tiësto’s Career
“The Business” arrived during a period when Tiësto continued to reach audiences beyond traditional electronic dance-music fans.
The track was released through Musical Freedom with distribution/licensing involving Atlantic Records. Apple Music lists the single as a September 2020 release, while Warner Music’s Tiësto discography also identifies the September 25, 2020 release.
The song subsequently appeared in different versions and remixes, demonstrating its adaptability across electronic-music styles.
There was also a later “The Business, Pt. II” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, further extending the life of the original song.
The Visual and Musical Contrast
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of “The Business” is the contrast between sound and imagery.
The music is polished, rhythmic, and designed to move an audience.
The story, meanwhile, deals with emotional tension and an unstable relationship.
The music video takes this contrast even further by combining romance, comedy, dance, and surreal storytelling.
This makes the video suitable for repeated viewing because there is more to it than simply watching an artist perform.
Final Thoughts
Tiësto’s “The Business” is more than a successful electronic dance track. It is a carefully constructed combination of memorable production, recognizable vocals, distinctive visual storytelling, and strong performances.
The song explores a relationship reaching an important moment of decision, while the official music video presents that emotional situation through unusual characters, choreography, humor, and surreal imagery.
Tiësto’s production gives the track its dance-floor energy, while Christian Breslauer’s direction gives the song a memorable visual identity.
The combination helped make “The Business” an easily recognizable entry in Tiësto’s catalog.
For anyone interested in electronic dance music, music-video storytelling, or Tiësto’s career, the official video is worth watching as an example of how a relatively short dance track can be transformed into a distinctive visual narrative.
Official Video Credit
Artist: Tiësto
Song: “The Business”
Original music-video publisher: Tiësto Official YouTube Channel
Director: Christian Breslauer
Starring: Casey Frey and Kyla Bullings
Release: September 2020
Original video: Tiësto – The Business (Official Music Video)
All copyrights in the original music, recording, music video, performances, artwork, and other audiovisual material remain with Tiësto, the record label, production team, and respective rights holders. This article is original commentary and informational content and does not claim ownership of the original video.