Today, Russia’s Pussy Riot release the audio visual project “TOXIC” featuring a queer hyperpop artist Dorian Electra (produced by 100 Gecs’ Dylan Brady). The accompanying music video for the hyper-core track is directed by Nadya Tolokonnikova, 3D art is done by a female artist Ksti Hu. See the “Toxic” official video HERE + stream the song HERE.
NADYA says: "In 2021 Pussy Riot is going to celebrate its 10-years-anniversary. It's been 10 years of a radical experiment - of creating exclusively art that's inherently political. Every single art piece we create is political, there can't be exceptions to this rule. TOXIC is political, because personal is political. The single reflects on the importance of self-care, cherishing your mental health and staying away from relationships that poison you. A few years ago I went through an emotionally abusive relationship (that ended up being physically abusive, too - I was being held against my will in a house we lived in). The best way to process trauma for me is via creating art, that's why we wrote TOXIC with Dorian and Dylan. Besides music, I use other tools to convince others to put their mental health first, train themselves to recognize emotional violence and leave abusive relationships ASAP."
Dorian Electra says: "I'm so honored to be featured on this track. Nadya is one of my all time favorite people, friends and collaborators and I've always been so inspired by Pussy Riot's blending of activism and art. This song came together so quickly with Nadya and Dylan in the studio - we knew we had to make something both hella abrasive and cute at the same time."
“TOXIC” comes shortly after their call to action “RAGE” and is the first part of an upcoming bigger EP release this Spring. "RAGE" is a part of Pussy Riot's campaign for the release of all arrested for political reasons in Russia in 2021. Pussy Riot's Masha Alekhina and Lucy Shtein, a queer couple, are currently being held separately under house arrest, they're facing 2 years in jail for supporting jailed Putin's critic Alexey Navalny.
Pussy Riot’s created singles the last few years, such as the project “Make America Great Again” which was eerily recorded and shot before Trump was elected president "RAGE. “RIOT” along with the Nadya Tolokonnikova-directed video was released last year, as well as “HANGERZ” a project on female reproductive rights.
“Police State” and “1312” are projects against police brutality; "1312" stands for "ACAB", "all cops are bastards". “НОЖ” / “KNIFE” is a project against domestic violence, which was released alongside Pussy Riot's "STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" award; Pussy Riot paid 3.000 euros to 3 winners who created the best media materials on the topic.
"Our future has yet to be written. When Pussy Riot writes new music, we ask ourselves: What will activist punk sound like in 2030? What will it talk about? Our songs reflect on global issues such as public security, mental health and the relationship of citizens to their government." - wrote Nadya Tolokonnikova in her recent NYT article on activism and radical political imagination.
Ever since their release from prison on December 13th 2013, Nadya Tolokonnikova and Masha Alekhina founded MEDIAZONA, Pussy Riot’s independent publication focused on Russian courts, law enforcement, and the prison system.
VIDEO CREDITS “TOXIC”:
written, directed and edited by nadya tolokonnikova
starring: nadya tolokonnikova and dorian electra
director of photography: santiago imkorpo pagnotta, weston allen
3D design, special FX, color correction: ksti hu
special FX makeup: ally mcgillicuddy
music production: dylan brady
songwriting: nadya tolokonnikova, dylan brady, dorian electra
About Pussy Riot:
https://www.youtube.com/wearepussyriot
http://www.twitter.com/pussyrrriot
http://www.instagram.com/nadyariot
https://www.facebook.com/wearepussyriot/
https://zona.media/ (= Pussy Riot’s independent publication focused on Russian courts, law enforcement, and prison system)
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