Watch Bully’s Animated “Focused” Video
The band has also announced an extensive world tour
Images via Sup Pop/YouTube, Alysse Gafkjen
Nashville quartet Bully, led by powerhouse singer-songwriter Alicia Bognanno, have released the music video for “Focused,” a single off their sophomore album, Losing. Released last fall through Sub Pop, Losing is the ferocious continuation of the rising band’s first album, Feels Like, which got the band into the spotlight in 2015.
Bognanno has used animation in her videos before, primarily in her LAZY MOM-directed music video for “Feel The Same.” “Focused” uses the dissonant bass licks of bassist Reece Lazarus to drive the tempo of the entire music video. This dissonance from the bass creates a tension when paired with Bognanno’s melodic vocals, which build up throughout the song until they heavily release, with Bognanno screaming, “I am trying to stay focused.” The music video captures the song’s tension perfectly by pairing the audio with visuals of losing fingers to a game of rock-paper-scissors, a culinary chef rocking back and forth in the fetal position, and an oversized blue dog pissing on a treasure-filled castle.
Animator and artist Rozalina Burkova, who directed the music video, says that it is “loosely based on the theme of coming of age and the ups and downs friendships and relationships.” Bognanno added in a statement, “I let Rozalina take the reins on this one. I am a huge fan of all her animation work and wanted her to do what she felt was best for this video.” Bognanno also expressed her appreciation for Burkova when she promoted the music video on Twitter:
New video for Focused out today by Rozalina Burkova. She’s an amazing animator and artist and somebody we have been wanting to working with for a while now. Check it out! https://t.co/mniEMae30Tpic.twitter.com/0X6z2rzisA
— Bully (@Bully) February 7, 2018
Bully have announced they will embark on an extensive world tour through the U.S. and U.K. starting later this month, with tour dates taking them through festivals like Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta, Ga., and Noise Pop Festival in San Francisco, Calif.