Following the release of their debut full length Bright Green Field, Squid has released a music video for the climactic track of the record “Pamphlets”. The video hones in on this idea of self-isolation, self-ridicule, existing in your own circle of hell, and finally breaking free from that.
The video was directed by Raman Djafari with beautifully unsettling animation by Barney Abrahams. Of the video, Djafari shared the following:
The video for ‘Pamphlets’ is a meditation on the feeling of being unfit, unlovable, not compatible and the manic anxiety and stress that this results in. I wanted to explore a state of mind that I have found myself in many times, of fearing to go outside and being confronted with everything that one cannot love about themselves. The second half emerges from that state of mind through the embrace of difference.
Rooted in trauma that is as personal as it is always connected to society at large, harmful self-images are incredibly hard to escape. The fear of being rejected for the ways one is marked as different and perceived as such, manifested in the presence and gaze of others, becomes the way we see ourselves. We internalize the rejection that we are subjected to. As a result, there is the urge to hide away, suppress and judge whatever it is that we have been taught to hate. Thus detaching from the self and thereby detaching from others. This is a video that relates to my own experiences as well as it is a solidarisation with everyone that has been made to feel this way
The video focuses on a devil-like figure confined to their own home along with imagery of what could be the tree from the garden of eden featuring a single aqua blue apple which subsequently multiplies. There is a human like quality to the devil creature physically in the texture of their skin and how lifelike it appears, but emotionally as well as they fight their own inner demons. The visual textures overall are mesmerizing with their variations and ability to appear as if they were moving independently at points. There are elements that are obsession, haunting, religious, ritualistic, and absurd. It is truly one of the most well done animated videos that I’ve seen come out of not just a time period where that type of media thrived, but in general. It’s narrative nature and captivating imagery is also a perfect fit for the feat of a song this is to live up to.
The band will be going on tour through the US in the fall of this year. Check out the dates below so you can mark those calendars and scoop up those tix.
Tue. Nov. 9 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
Wed. Nov. 10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Mercury Lounge
Fri. Nov. 12 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
Sat. Nov. 13 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Wed. Nov. 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Moroccan Lounge
Fri. Nov. 19 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
Sat. Nov. 20 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
Mon. Nov. 22 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
Tue. Nov. 23 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile
