Video: Xiu Xiu, ‘Get Up’

Daiana Feuer on February 10th, 2017

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Feb. 24 sees the release of “Forget” on Polyvinyl, Xiu Xiu‘s 14th studio album since 2002, a prolific output that’s even more staggering if you count EPs, singles, compilations, splits, collaborations and side projects. So much music and endless torture for Jamie Stewart, who admits that internal crisis and bad temper are an ongoing part of his artistic cycle. That’s the focus of “Get Up,” a sort of plea for forgiveness and an exclamation of gratitude towards his bandmates, Angela Seo and Shayna Dunkelman, for having his back, understanding his peculiarities, and putting him in his place.

Producer John Congleton (Sleater-Kinney, Sigur Ros) says, “While mixing this song I always had to hold back the tears everytime we got to the section where Jamie says two times, ‘You’re the only reason I was born.’ Jamie always has a way of saying something so succinct in a way that is soul crushing.”

For the video, longtime Xiu Xiu collaborator Marty Marquez called in some favors, borrowed fancy equipment, and did some guerrilla style shooting in an industrial part of Los Angeles, following a woman around while she lit things on fire. Despite having no permits and trespassing all over, he says, “Nobody, not even passing cops, gave us a second glance, even though a crew of 10 was following our beautiful actress around with a ridiculous amount of equipment on private property. Amazingly there were no injuries, no street hassles and we got what we needed.”

||| Watch: “Get Up”