I Wanna Do Drugs
Like Everyone Else
Video and Song By Chanel & The Circus
Los Angeles artist Chanel & The Circus discusses their music video for “I Wanna Do Drugs,” an angst-driven anthem about wanting to be like everyone else. Made in a garage in the beginning of quarantine, the video showcases different characters that represent different drugs. Can you guess which scene goes with which drug?
Los Angeles, California, USA
What is the story behind the song, "I Wanna Do Drugs"
I remember coming home early from a gig and just wishing I could be like everyone else; drunk and crazy and healthy enough to do so. I had recently found my old guitar and wrote this angsty af song in bed before going to sleep. The next day I finished it off and I realized I could laugh about it and I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
What is the inspiration behind the video?
So I made this video with my dad at the beginning of quarantine in our garage. We’re both film makers and we didn’t have much else to do at the time but having a project definitely helped the mood swings. Plus I always make a video for every song I release, the visuals and music are one in my mind.
How did you come up with the different characters? Do they represent anything or anyone?
Oh my many personalities!!! I love characters because I always learn something new about the nurture and nature of my life. Each scene represents a different drug as well...see if you can pick them out.
What was the filming process like? What were the difficulties and joys?
I gradually gathered and built props from around the house to go with each monochromatic scene. I would design the set, do my makeup, shoot the scene a bunch of times, then take a shower and do it all again for the next color; it took a couple weeks to film everything. For the “band” we shot one character playing the whole song then getting smothered in slime. I cut them all together in post so it looks like they’re interacting with each other. The pill box was a fun one, I sang on the ground while my mom and sister dropped pills on me and my dad filmed. At the end my head explodes which was a mixture of blue screen covering my face, a confetti cannon, and a lot of post production.
What's next for you?
The next song is called “Life Takes Time” and is about being patient with yourself and your learning process. It’s the second song off my upcoming EP which I’m so excited to release because it’s way more emotional than my previous music, inspired by quarantine breakups and being alone without distraction.
