Autostraddle and Slothrust are beyond stoked to team up to bring you the band’s new video for “Pigpen,” the final track from their 2016 album Everyone Else. The clip was directed and produced by queer artist and frequent Slothrust collaborator CJ Riehl, who also worked on their videos for “Horseshoe Crab” and “Sleep Eater.” Visually, it exists somewhere between a late-90s Smashing Pumpkins video and the Great British Bake-Off on hallucinogens.
“‘Pigpen’ portrays a dream sequence taking place in Leah’s mind as she floats in an isolation tank, which isn’t revealed until the end of the video,” Riehl explains. “Leah’s surroundings and presentation changes several times, even within the same scene. This is representational of the many layers and facets of our identities, especially within queer orientation and politics.”
Singer Leah Wellbaum continues, “We wanted to make a music video that stands on its own as a piece of art. Everyone who worked on this had an extreme focus on compelling, surreal imagery and concepts. Our intention was to make a type of music video that we haven’t made before, and don’t see very often.”
“Visually, it reminds me of A Trip To The Moon, the 1902 short film. We enjoy making art that is both playful and unnerving.”
Slothrust are currently wrapping up a tour with Highly Suspect; after that, they head out for some dates with Ron Gallo, as well as an Aug 4 set at Lollapalooza. Additionally, they’ll be playing an aftershow gig at The Bottom Lounge with the Pretty Reckless.
yaaaaaay slothrust <3
This is everything I never knew I needed in a music video.?