Brandon - Savior Complex

July 16, 2021

We open on the singer in a vast field of green with nothing but a guitar, an amp, and himself. He strums a delicate tune and the first lyrics seem to melt into the sunlight as soon as they flee his lips — “Emotional affair. Overly sincere.” — almost alluding to what the rest of the three-minute and 54-second video entails.

Brandon’s tranquilizing voice and Bridger’s signature eerie lyrics merge to create one enchantingly haunting lullaby. The rest of the band joins him during the outro for a transcendent instrumental break. The electric buzz fades into stillness as the last words linger in the air: “All the skeletons you hide. Show me yours.”

He recorded the cover last year with no intent to post it, but eventually concluded that this one was too special not to share.

Text by Megan hein
Photos by Chase Thompson

"Although I didn't write this song, it spoke to me in a way that made me feel as if it was my own story,” Brandon said. “I found myself playing it over and over again in my bedroom, remembering situations that I've been through.”

Check out the video for yourself below.

Music

Premiere: "Should've Known I Was Gay" (Mix by Alex Chapman)

March 01, 2018

Every gay man knows all too well the struggle of coming to terms with your sexuality. We also know that music can act as the ultimate catharsis during this confusing time, a melodic mantra which DJ and songwriter Alex Keith Chapman says fueled his soul while still in the closet. Today, we premiere Chapman's brand new mix, fittingly titled, "Should've Known I Was Gay."

"I picked songs that made me feel the gayest when closeted," Chapman explains. "Some of the tracks felt like obvious picks (like 'Perfect Exceeder' and 'Freakshow'), but there's this unspoken wavelength certain tracks tap into that just vibe with queer people who love pop."

Chapman's gayest memory? Performing "Turn The Beat Around" by Gloria Estefan at his summer camp talent show. "Zero shame, and I ate it." Listen below.

Music

Life Tips with BbyMutha

February 28, 2018

With four kids, a filthy flow, and a recent uproar of critical acclaim for her output of hard-hitting, wise-cracking, free-flowing rap, BbyMutha is undoubtedly that bitch. She's part of a new uprising of black female rappers treading their own paths, but something seems different with the Tennessee-based rapper—she's wise enough to lead the pack.

You'll almost always find her in her own Instagram comments section. Her Twitter is filled with a constant stream of reactions and revelations. And her rapidly growing fanbase loves interacting with her.

We sat down with BbyMutha and asked her your questions—from heartbreak, smoking weed, and cutting off your religious grandma, she's got hilarious life advice in abundance.

Photos by Ryan Duffin
Interview by Ivan Guzman
Hair by Guingui
Styling by Cinn

“BbyMutha, I just got ghosted by this guy I was talking to for a month. What do I do?” -Stefon, 23, Wisconsin

Fuck his friend. You fuck his friends! You fuck all of his friends—as many of them as you can. You fuck his dad. I bet he’ll come back. He won’t be a ghost anymore. Yeah, fuck his friends.

“BbyMutha, my mom was a bitch to me. How do I start trusting girls again?” -Anna, 22, New York

Yo, I don’t even know what to tell you because I had that same shit. My mom’s relationship with me kind of affected the way my friendships work, but it was in the opposite way. I didn’t push people away from me, I wanted more people around me because I wanted a female figure in my life. My dad raised me, so.. I don’t know. I have no advice for that shit. To be honest, bro, there’s nothing to even trust. When you know there are good people around you, you can feel that shit. You don’t have to question whether you should trust them or not. You’ll know when you need to trust somebody—you shouldn’t trust everybody any-fucking-way. You’re doing the right thing. Definitely don’t push people away, but don’t make it your mission to be all in people’s faces. It’s okay to be how you are. The world is fucked up, it’s okay.

“BbyMutha, how do you get over your ex when the dick was really bomb? Serious question.” -Donald, 23, Grand Rapids

Go find some more bomb ass dick. The solution to getting over a nigga is another nigga. It’s not always the best solution, but if you’re that pressed, just go fuck somebody else! When I can’t shake a nigga, I go fuck another nigga, and I don’t think about that nigga anymore. And eventually, that nigga comes back, especially if they know you’re happy and got some new dick in your life. They definitely be like, “What’s up? Where you been?” Stop caring about these niggas so much.

“BbyMutha, I’ve recently gained ten pounds from smoking weed. Is this enough of a reason to stop?” -LeLe, 25, Los Angeles

Why you do that?! No! No. Hell no. That’s not a good reason to stop smoking weed. There’s nothing wrong with gaining weight, I’m sure somebody likes it. If you like to smoke weed, smoke weed. If you don’t like to be fat, then stop smoking weed. But…

“BbyMutha, I’m totally straight, but last night I made out with a girl I met at a concert and felt less than straight. What does it all mean?” -Rhonda, 26, Las Vegas

It just means you made out with a girl. I don’t know why sexual orientation is such a big deal right now, like… Kiss whoever you want. There’s such a thing as platonic intimacy. You can kiss people and not even be sexually attracted to them—you just wanted to make out with somebody, and it’s strictly platonic. If you don’t think you’re gay, you’re not gay.

“BbyMutha, how do I get my brain to produce serotonin naturally?” -Junior, 22, Texas

I have no idea, I’m a depressed ass bitch. Do you not listen to my music? The answer is: when you find out, let me know because I have no fucking idea.

“BbyMutha, is it okay to block my religious grandma on Instagram?” -Jack, 24, New York

Please block your religious grandma! It’s completely okay.

“BbyMutha, what was wrong with the toilet in ‘Mother’s Day Intro'”? -Anonymous

She shitted, and when she tried to flush it, it wouldn’t go back. It looked like a bowling ball. I don’t even know how that came out, but I had to plunge the toilet pretty much.

“BbyMutha, I’m going to be a dad soon and have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. How do I not fuck this up?” -Larry, 32, Massachusetts

You’re asking the wrong person—I’m still fucking shit up! There’s no way to not fuck it up. You are going to fuck it up, but you have to acknowledge when you fuck up and try to move forward from that and not fuck up again. But especially if it’s your first child, you’re going to fuck up. Don’t give your baby mama no hard ass time, I will say that. Don’t make it more difficult for her just because you don’t know what the fuck you’re doing.

“BbyMutha, my landlord won’t fix my washing machine, and I’m out of clean panties. What should I do?” -Shannon, 20, New York

Who wears panties anymore? It’s 2018. But can’t you sue your landlord? Or just go to a laundromat, bitch, what the fuck?! Just don’t wear panties, it’s bad for your vajayjay.

“BbyMutha, I’m a gay man that keeps falling for straight boys. What am I doing wrong?" -Emil, 21, Oklahoma

I’m a bisexual woman that keeps falling for gay men. We can help each other out. You call me, and we can figure this shit out together, bitch, because I have no fucking idea. I love gay men, and I don’t know why. So I don’t know.

BBYMUTHA - "Dancing On The Dick" Prod By: ROCK FLOYD [ OFFICIAL VIDEO ]

Play video

“BbyMutha, I’m a junior at NYU majoring in Communications. I’m making great money doing sponsored posts on Instagram, and I’m thinking of dropping out to focus on influencing full-time." -Cassandra, 23, New Jersey

Isn’t your major relevant to what you’re doing on Instagram as an influencer? It’s never a bad idea to be educated. Don’t drop out of fucking school. Why do you have to drop out of school to be an influencer, anyway?! You have your phone in your hand all the time, don’t drop out of fucking school!

“BbyMutha, how is it possible to get over a boy that I haven’t gotten under? We spent two months ‘taking things slow’ before he moved on.” -Emma, 21, London

That’s why he moved on, bitch! No shade—you don’t owe your pussy to nobody—but that’s why he moved on, forreal, forreal. Cause niggas ain’t shit. So you should be over him because if he couldn’t wait for your pussy, then you shouldn’t be fucking with him in the first place. So you should be over that nigga. He didn’t deserve your coochie or you, so you shouldn’t even be thinking about him.