By DJ Saltnteppa
“‘I’ve got a problem, can you solve it?’” This is how Austin’s own J’cuuzi introduces their third single, “Bad Toy,” whose music video dropped earlier this month on YouTube. In less than a year, J’cuuzi has made a name for themselves in the Austin area with their unique blend of electronic beats, guitar riffs, inventive lyrics, and captivating stage performances. Their shows feature backup dancers, eye-catching costumes, and choreographed routines that often involve a swizzle mid-century accent chair.
Directed by band member Gorge Bones, the “Bad Toy” music video creates a surreal world that invites speculation about the backstory of its human-like, yet creatively distorted creatures. Fashioned by Breath, the costumes are bulbous grey couture full-body suits, with oversized nails adorned with bubble wands, garish eyebrows, and silver-tinted makeup. The creatures visually communicate using kitschy analog telephones with braided cords, creating a striking visual that complements Trey Rosenkampff’s dark vocals.
The hyperfocus and camera zoom on the singers’ mouths, seen either directly or through the VHS reverb on an analog TV, slyly references the opening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where things are not as they seem. This pairing is perfectly complemented by quick scenes of domestic normality for the creatures living in a normal apartment and walking their dog outside. The frenzied shots of the monsters contrast sharply with the clear and centered shot of Gorge Bones behind a chain-link fence, who could be seen as in control of the monsters behind the barrier.
The band describes “Bad Toy” as an “audible smirk” and, with this creatively shot music video with camerawork by Rie Oh and Greer James, it’s a visual one as well. This dark, uptempo track adds to the creative world that J’cuuzi is building both online and onstage.