Music
iskwē Leaves an Abusive Relationship for the Butterfly Realm in Her New Video
28 Jul, 19
iskwē’s newest video for her song “Breaking Down” is about leaving an abusive relationship—but it’s also about what you find after leaving a dark space, be it the space to create a new version of yourself, or possibilities and other worlds you never imagined.
“This video is about me finding my way back to my clan, the butterfly clan, which represents my family in the spirit world,” said the artist. “I wanted to show the emergence of self, by shedding layers of the past while discovering strength in being true to who I am.”
Image via Mikwchyan
The visual features a variety of diverse dancers, all at first struggling to escape gauzy, cocoon-like prisons. Eventually, they break out and find a way to fit into their own skin; at last, their bodies are illuminated by rainbow paint and Christmas lights. It’s a surreal, campy, and dazzling performance that will leave you blinking away the glitter.
“Breaking Down” is the second single off iskwē’s upcoming LP, achakosuk. A member of Canada’s indigenous Cree community, her music has always strived to overcome Western expectations, prioritizing ancient communal and mystical traditions while bringing attention to indigenous voices and contemporary social issues.
“Our vision was to be as inclusive as possible, with each of the dancers representing different communities,” iskwē said of the “Breaking Down” video. “Indigenous, people of colour, LGBTQ, as a way to honour our various stages of emergence and growth in finding comfort in who we are.”
The video feels like it’s about more than just finding oneself. It seems to be about tapping into hidden spiritual forces, using them to metamorphose into a higher version of oneself, and finding communities that support and uplift those forces.
Watch “Breaking Down” below:
iskwē – “Breaking Down” (Official Video)www.youtube.com
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