alt-J Explores Mass Incarceration and Violence in a 90’s Video Game World for his Latest Video
alt-J and Danny Brown have tapped director and 2018 Sundance Film winner Jeron Braxton for their latest graphic for “Deadcrush.” After releasing an animated, Blade Runner-esque video for the “In Cold Blood” rework with Pusha T. and Twin Shadow, alt-J is continuing to explore digital worlds with his latest drop. The clip for Alchemist x Trooko version of “Deadcrush” is a nostalgia-filled tribute to nineties video games, and also plays on the dark tones of the song by featuring demons, mutant dogs, and government officials perpetuating evil. Although both visuals use animation as a medium for storytelling, “Deadcrush” takes on a heavier topic by exploring how members of the black community are held captive in a destructive cycle of drugs, violence, and mass incarceration. Both remixes come off alt-J's forthcoming album REDUXER, which is a collection of reinterpreted songs from his third album, RELAXER. The new project, available on September 28th, will serve up collaborations with the likes of GoldLink, Rejjie Snow, PJ Sin Suela, Little Simz, Kontra K, Tuka and Lomepak.
Words: Paola de Oliveira