Beauts’ “Drifters, All” harnesses a constant sense of foreboding which alerts the senses that something big is happening in the next five minutes — and its delivery doesn’t disappoint.
Stream: “Drifters, All” – Beauts
Sometimes the best inspiration can come from an art form that isn’t your own. While a musician may create a sound that is a mashup of their favourite jams, the real influence may very well be a painting, a sculpture, or modern black and white movies. That last one may seem random, but it’s anything but to Halifax, Nova Scotia-based band Beauts.
Their newest single “Drifters, All” comes with a stunning video — shot in black and white and directed by Nicole Holland — which captures a methodical quest for wilderness survival, interspersed with beautiful scenic shots. The era is purposely ambiguous, with maps, suspenders and match-lit-cigarettes creating an old-time-y-feel. More short-film than classic music video — there’s not an instrument or miming to be found — there is a constant sense of loneliness and worry. The black and white only furthers this sentiment.
The song, which was released last Friday, is a fascinating post-pop-punk track that simmers under the surface before finally erupting into an epic solo and one last, mighty chorus. The track takes the sound of their two earlier EPs – 2015s self-titled and 2016s Waves/Wash – and matures it, making Beauts a band worth watching.
“Drifters, All” harnesses a constant sense of foreboding – started by the pounding, anxiety ridden drumbeat and supported by the urgent organ – which alerts the senses that something big is happening in the next five minutes. In a beautiful contrast, the calm vocals mask this panicked sentiment.
We’re Drifters, All
Blame it on our bodies
Let the waves do the talking
So pull me out
Put me in street clothes
Please,
Make it look like an accident at least
The end result is a song that beats steadily, luring you in gently before blasting through a catchy ending.
In honour of the new clip, lead singer Beauts’ Jeff Lawton – a self-proclaimed culture buff – rounded up his favourite modern-era black and white movies, which both influenced this music video and his life. Remember this list on your next rainy day and make sure you catch Beauts this week at Halifax Pop Explosion!
Top 5 Modern-Era Black & White Movies
by Beaut’s Jeff Lawton
- Rumble Fish
“I’m not the first to say that Rumble Fish is like the weird cousin of The Outsiders (both were directed by Francis Ford Coppola, both starred a young Matt Dillon, and both were based on teen fiction novels by S.E. Hinton), but it’s a way more psychedelic and drifting movie. It also combines peak Mickey Rourke with peak Dennis Hopper, plus an awkward early performance by Nicolas Cage, a super funny Tom Waits cameo, and a bonkers Stewart Copeland score. An amazing movie in so many ways.”
- Dead Man
“I get the same vibe from Dead Man as I do from Rumble Fish, but this time the setting is an American Western. Somehow its black and whiteness makes it feel more psychedelic than if it was awash with colour. It’s definitely my favourite Jim Jarmusch movie, and possibly my favourite Johnny Depp movie (whatever that’s worth), but it’s the cameo moments from Iggy Pop, Billy Bob Thorton, Crispin Glover, and so many others that stick with me.”
- Eraserhead
“I love Twin Peaks – it’s probably my favourite TV show – but I admit that all the internet Stans and endless ephemera is making it reach Bill Murray levels of oversaturation. But, the true David Lynch fans know that the purest thing he’s made will always be Eraserhead. It’s definitely not the easiest thing to consume, and watching it in the wrong frame of mind could result in a brain that will never be unmelted. A fun thing to do is to put it on at parties.”
- Frances Ha
“This is a movie that hit close to home when it came out. I was a similar age as Greta Gerwig’s character at the time, and had a similar restlessness/aimlessness about who I was and what I wanted to do with my life. But it’s also a pretty funny and charming movie, and its use of black and white gave it a classy quality, which makes it pretty rewatchable despite the uncomfortable questions it made (makes?) me ask myself.”
- Madonna: Truth or Dare
“This one feels like a really indulgent movie to sit through, like eating too much cheesecake or something. You’re basically just watching Madonna living her best, most famous life during what’s probably the most fascinating phase of her career. And she’s funny and obnoxious and inspiring and sometimes just straight-up awful towards people. The concert bits (which are filmed in colour) make you remember how amazing a performer she was, but the real gems here are the interactions between Madonna and her then grandfather boyfriend Warren Beatty.”
Stream: “Drifters, All” – Beauts
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