video premiere: queer romance and beach fun illuminate punk-rockers the younger lovers new visual

The Younger Lovers are a punk-rock project that got their start in 2003 as part of the bedroom demo created by Brontez Purnell after moving to the Bay Area. Inspired by his love of all melody-based rock music, from indie, Blues, garage, surf, and more, the Younger Lovers brand of punk-rock is one that knows no bounds. You might even recognize Purnell as a member of the electro-clash riot-girl band, Gravy Train!!!! (hella hella hella nervous nervous).

Check out their new video, and an interview of Brontez by Osa Atoe of the Shotgun Seamstress zine.
 

1. What is it about California?

Basically everything. I’m answering these questions at my Uncles old club right now. He played Blues at this club 4 blocks up the street from me and the same neighborhood (save for the beach scenes – shoot at Ocean Beach in SF- lol @ “Ocean Beach”) that the video was shot in. I moved to Oakland when I was 19 cause I knew my Grandmothers brother had played Blues here since the 60s and I was a punk and I was like “ guess I’ll go play guitar in California too”. I mean don’t get me wrong- Oakland gets on my fucking nerves. Tech has taken over- certain dirty ass underachieving white punks wanna end my swag cause I’m too Wakanda BUT I don’t really wanna live in New York ( there’s no Black Boys playing rad garage in New York- how come all the niggas in New York play Emo hardcore? Barf.) I don’t really wanna live in LA. Guess I’m stuck in Oakland. My life in California is “sun bleached”.

2. Tell us more about the director, your relationship and how you came together to form a vision for the video.

Well it’s Jen Heard. Feminist director supreme! She’s rad, has a razor sharp aesthetic, and I’m god uncle to her two BEAUTIFUL children. I love that white woman.

3. Talk to me about the symbolism of hair and cutting it in particular. I think about a recent divorcée cutting her hair short or using hair in a ritual or Victorian hair art… I also think of the incidental sensuality & intimacy of visiting a barber and letting him change something very personal about you.

EXACTLY- it’s like when ur having a manic fit and the only thing you can change is your hair. Many cultures shaved their hair to go to war. (I just made that up actually) – what’s most important is I’m a total faggot- coincidentally I’m also Black so have to go to the Black boy barbershop. I basically chill on all my faggot shit until the barber is done cutting my hair- I do that fag thing where when I’m around a bunch of straight boys I try to talk with a deeper voice. They know I am carrying and usually give me a pass. I fear if i fag out too much at the Black boy barber shop my fade will be less than tight and I’m too fucking vein to take that chance. So I don’t….

4. Your lyrics are poems. Who are some of your favorite poets.

Azealia Banks, NIKKI MINAJ, Remy Ma, Tupac, Sylvia Plath, THE BEATNIKS, THE ROMANTICS, Nikki Giovanni, Sappho, THE HARLEM NIGGERATI, BILLY CHILDISH (except for that one racist poem where he called Frida Khalo a “spic whore”- I think I’m remembering this correctly), “ALL THEY WANT IS MY MONEY, MY PUSSY, MY BLOOD” by MORGAN PARKER, “SONG” by FRANK O’HARA”, “SOLITUDES CROWDED BY LONELINESS” by BOB KAUFMAN, “IF SO, WINTER” by ANNE CARSON, SUGARWALLS by Sheena Easton, THE SECRET LIFE. BY THE NEW BLOODS, “KISS ME AND ILL KISS YOU BACK” by DIGITAL UNDERGROUND, DRAKE, WEEZY, THAT ONE BLACK NEW YORK RAPPER THAT GOT LOCKED UP, BERNEDETTE MYERS “STUDYING HUNGER” + “ A TURN IN AIR: AN IMPOSSIBILITY”, “NIGGAS GOT PTSD”- I don’t remember who wrote this poem tbh, “HER KIND” by ANNE SEXTON, Harold Norse, Jim Morrison (EW- BARF- KIDDING), “TOMS DINER” by SUZANNE VEGA, “NO SHOOK HANDS” by LIL KIM, “ETher ” by NAS.

etc etc etc

5. Is there a difference between thick and thicc? Which term do you identify with more?

I’m thicc basically. I used to be a skinny good looking gay man but I got depressed when my dad died 3 years ago and gained hella weight. I was 290 pounds in high school and shrank to 168 in my San Francisco gay boy daze in my late 20s / early 30s. Now I am 230 and not feeling particularly bad about it. I still pull cute trade. To quote Morgan Parker “ I know my pussy is good because they told me so”