PREMIERE: Bile Sister’s new video “Wasted Crochet” is a green screen portal into Bizarro World

Published: March 04, 2015

Mere months after their last music video in collaboration with a hyper-talented group of visual artists, Toronto’s Bile Sister returns with another A/V ADD barrage. Using the green screen as a springboard, director Dave Bedrich matches the band’s mutant discotronix with a polychromatic explosion of cat masks, Casios, and purple-wigged shredding. Grinning faces and layered body parts meld into funhouse mirror visions from the Douggpound school of edit desk overload.

YouTube Video

Julie Reich is the ringleader of this unshackled circus, so she answered a few of our questions about the song’s quaint origins, its collaborators, and her upcoming plans for 2015.

Your music conjures playful fantasy worlds with elaborate concepts that might not be immediately apparent. What can you tell me about the song “Wasted Crochet” and its accompanying video?

“Wasted Crochet” has many meanings, though it's not immediately apparent, for sure. The term was used literally to describe my efforts at crocheting by the guru Stacey Sproule (who sings guest vocals and appears in the video). She hosts regular ladies’ nights where we watch The X-Files and crochet. I was not a natural, to say the least!

We came up with the lyrics together, right before recording her vocals in my living room. At the time, Stacey and Victoria Cheong (from Healing Power Records) were in the midst of putting together a compilation with the theme of "healing," entitled Fruits. Naturally, our bonding influenced “Wasted Crochet” during the making of the comp. Lyrically, the song is quite dark, but is juxtaposed with an upbeat tone and playful wordplay. The song came to signify the concept of moving on, letting go, not being able to rectify past mistakes, and feelings of regret or wasted time.

The video took on the more playful aspects of the song because, as long time buds (since grade 7), director Dave Bedrich and I tend to associate each other with fun stuff. He and I have been making collages since we were 19 years old, so he wanted to make a collage homage for this video, so to speak. Also, I wanted him to incorporate the theme of decay, so some background imagery quietly reflects that. It’s basically a colourful free-association fantasy type of video. It is what it is.

You also have a knack for bringing together different people from the music and visual art communities of Toronto. Who was involved with this production, and what can you tell me about their individual practices?

Well, thank you!! I love bringing people from different communities together. I was lucky that Stacey and Chris Worden agreed to appear in the video, since they collaborated on the recording (Stacey sings and Chris plays guitar)! Dave the director also makes a guest appearance, but it's hard to tell because his face is covered in shaving cream (lol).

In terms of their practices, Stacey is a multi-media artist exploring self-healing, non-denominational spiritual practice, identity, and memory. Her narratives have been expressed through found objects, knitting, embroidery, quilting, and other textile techniques.

Chris is one of two directors of the Electric Eclectics festival held in Meaford, Ontario every civic holiday weekend since 2006. It takes place on the gorgeous property of Gordon Monahan (experimental artist and co-director of the festival) and Laura Kikauka (another prominent experimental artist). Someday Chris will release his masterpiece as Natural Thirst.

You had a super busy year in 2014 with the release of the Faucet album, collaborating with Chandra, performing as Abra Cadaver at All Toronto's Parties II, and assembling the Offerings Magazine compilation. Do you imagine 2015 will be equally jam-packed?

Indeed, 2014 was quite a busy year! I expect 2015 to be similar. Currently, we are working on writing music for a new album, and have already talked to a few people about a video! Also, I am working on some collabs that will appear on two different compilations. Many shows are in the works, plus some more plans with Chandra and co., a split LP with a pal, setting up a website, initiating the grant application process, and we intend to apply to the summer festival network. Surely I'm forgetting something... so you'll just have to stay tuned to find out more! Ding!

PREMIERE: Bile Sister’s new video “Wasted Crochet” is a green screen portal into Bizarro World by Jesse Locke | Chart Attack.

Rap & Hip / Hop
follow us on Twitter      Contact      Privacy Policy      Terms of Service
Copyright © BANDMINE // All Right Reserved
Return to top