After playing the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Julien Baker & TORRES share the official video for their debut single ‘Sugar in the Tank’, directed by Caity Arthur and shot in collaboration with the queer country dance party Stud Country. Watch below!
The clip features original choreography by Stud Country’s co-founder Sean Monaghan and star members of the Stud Country community. “We were so excited to cast people from our community including Geo [Jedlicka] who has been dancing in NYC for three decades. Having established artists like Julien and TORRES, who’ve actually been to our events, collaborate with us during this country revival is incredible,” says Monaghan. Jae Cripe, Stud Country regular and DJ, says “It’s been very healing for me as a trans person who was raised in the South to reconnect with this part of myself in a place that feels safe, supportive, and also happens to be full of very hot and nice queer people.”
Julien Baker and TORRES spoke on the video saying, “We were really honored that the Stud Country folks were willing to have fun with us and prepare this line dance for the song! Everyone involved is so talented and they were patient and sweet with us while we learned the moves. For us it’s particularly special to find someplace and some people to do cowboy shit with here in NYC.”
Formed by their shared experiences of growing up queer in the south, ‘Sugar in the Tank’ not only reflects Julien Baker & TORRES’ love of country music, but joyfully reclaims the genre’s traditions and iconography which until only recently felt exclusionary. The single is a beautiful duet that is authentically country as it is a celebration of the songwriter’s roots.
Stream / download ‘Sugar in the Tank’ here.