Videos

Reptar: Sebastian

• 25th May 2012

Reptar unveil the video for their new single Sebastian today, exclusively on the Noisey YouTube channel.

Directed by Deadhorse, Ben Fries and Jesse Cain – who have also created memorable promos for the likes of Kindness, Holy Ghost, and Theophilus London. The clip combines performance footage of Reptar’s lead singer Graham Ulicny, shot from several angles simultaneously to create a surreal and cubistic effect, with living tableaus. The tableaus depict the story of Saint Sebastian, the Christian saint and martyr and earliest gay icon, who was tied to a tree and shot with arrows before ultimately being clubbed to death for his criticism of the Emperor.

Produced by Ben Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley), “Sebastian” is a song about finding confidence and power in not fitting into the hetero-normative model of society, something beautifully reflected in the singularity of the track and the video. As singer Graham Ulicny understates, “celebrating the complexity of human desire is important and beautiful.”

Reptar are Graham Ulicny (Vocals, Guitar), William Kennedy (Keys), Ryan Engelberger (Bass) and Andrew McFarland (Drums) and have been likened to The Talking Heads, Animal Collective, Prince, and The Jackson 5.