Sneaker Pimps Step Into The Ring
Following the release of singles SQUARING THE CIRCLE, and FIGHTER, Sneaker Pimps has debuted a dynamic new video via their YouTube channel. The video, set to Fighter, was directed, shot, and edited by Sneaker Pimps’ Chris Corner, and reflects the themes of the song: mental illness, self-doubt, and the strength to persevere through it all.
Watch The Music Video For FIGHTER Here
Fighter video still courtesy of Sneaker Pimps
“We live in a world of mental illness where we are surrounded by profound idiocy and overload. Fighter is an ode to a struggle to tune out, gain strength and breakthrough. In the video, the character’s fight is ridiculous, there is no other. In the grip of the darkest depression and anxiety the opponent is her own mind. She locks herself in her ring, painting a circle and shrinking her world even further. Freeze, flight, or fight. Self fulfilling prophecies. She’s wrapped in a gimp suit because she’s a slave to her own negative narratives. Trapped by vices and triggered by the most innocuous objects. In this world, bouncing balls and balloons become existential threats.
But there’s also a faint light of hope. She’s dancing in the face of the full catastrophe of life. She will prevail, she always has. Round 2.” – Chris Corner
Fighter video still courtesy of Sneaker Pimps
Followers of Corner will be familiar with his DIY approach and the lengths he’ll go to for his work. The video was done with a minimal team near his studio in Pioneertown, CA.
“I shot the video in anamorphic to give it a filmic stretched and otherworldly feel. Soft flares and subtle distortions to add distance, keeping us as the viewer outside of the fighter’s world. My crew spent weeks painting and repainting the set to find just the right queasy color. Repeatedly repacking hundreds of bouncing balls and balloons for shot after shot. Everything you see is on camera. Simple but time consuming.
Janine from IAMX was willing to jump into the gimp suit and suffer in extreme desert heat. If you look close you’ll see real sweat dripping down the arms. Everybody worked like dogs for the love of it, this was the ultimate no ego video. Those people are my heroes.” – Chris Corner
The Fighter video comes just a few days after the group revealed a hauntingly gorgeous lyric video for Squaring The Circle. This video was also created by Corner and features a mysterious shape shifter, floating in a green abyss, and occasionally peering out at the viewer as she expands and contracts to the heartfelt melody. Both Fighter and Squaring The Circle will be featured on the Sneaker Pimps upcoming album, also titled “Squaring The Circle”.
Watch The Lyric Video For SQUARING THE CIRCLE Here
Squaring The Circle video still courtesy of Sneaker Pimps
Bio
Formed in Hartlepool, UK, Sneaker Pimps immediately emerged as a musical force and pioneer of the trip-hop genre with their debut album, Becoming X (1996). Known for clever sampling, bittersweet melodies and a moody sound which intricately combined organic & electronic production and morphed between female and male vocal performances, they landed in the UK Top 40 five times during their initial seven year run with tracks such as Six Underground, Spin SpIn Sugar, Low Five, and Bloodsport.
After a mutual decision to explore other avenues, both founding members Chris Corner (IAMX) and Liam Howe (AMP) went on to create their own highly successful musical and visual projects collaborating with artists as diverse as Gary Numan and Lana del Rey.
Now based in LA and London respectively Sneaker Pimps have reunited and, alongside newly-added vocalist Simonne Jones, are set to release the long-anticipated album, “Squaring The Circle”. The DLP will be out on September 10, 2021.
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