The Band Explains: Termination Dust - 'Spectre Sport'

Termination Dust and director/editor Emma Sheffer talk us through the concept behind the band’s new visuals for ‘Spectre Sport’ which sees them recreate artist Libby VanderPloeg's feminist helping GIF.
’Spectre Spot’ is a lo fi indie rock track with a great driving rhythm that takes its listener through a riddle of compelling narrative, taken from Termination Dust’s debut full-length.

Where was the video for Spectre Sport filmed? 
We filmed at the Director of Photography's garage in Anchorage. It used to be a mechanic's warehouse so it has a deep oil pit in the floor. We could't believe how perfect the space was. We worked with Alex Troutman (the DP) and Janine Way (our collaborator/producer/engineer) to figure out how to make the space work for us. They built the platform above the pit and Bre Wong (the production designer) made it look the way it did in the video! We got super lucky.

How does the video connect with the song? (if at all) 
The video connects to the Band's overall mission. The song is an anthem and one of the first songs that Steffi and Jaybird wrote together. In that sense, the song was perfect for this video piece. The sentiment of the piece is integral to who Termination Dust is and thus made sense to pair with this defining song from the first album. 

Any noteworthy behind the scenes stories? 
We broke the whole video up into groups and the whole filming took around 14 hours of non-stop climbing out of the pit. It was an incredibly moving day. So many people came together and showed up for us it was incredibly powerful. Entire families showed up, mothers and daughters, so many members of the Anchorage transgender community, children, babies, partners, friends and leaders here in Alaska... It was unbelievable. I loved showing people who were in the video and having them see everyone else in other groups and being like "omg, so and so was in this, oh and her? and him?... etc". Our Community in Alaska is strong and Incredible.

Could you tell us about the ideas/ themes/ imagery used? 
I think the statement really says it all:

We believe you. We believe in you. We will fight for you. We will help you up. We trust you will help us up. A few years ago, Libby VanderPloeg created a GIF in honor of International Womxns day. The GIF signifies women helping each other up. Femme-fronted band Termination Dust represents this IRL. Expanding the concept to represent all oppressed genders, this project includes womxn, trans-people, non-binary people, gender non-conforming people and gender fluid people. The patriarchy is not designed for us but fuck it.

Is there a message the video is trying to convey?
Overall, the video is about helping each-other up and navigating the patriarchal world we are forced to live within.

So much has happened this year alone that is completely fucked up. Actually this month alone. This video is about telling womxn like Dr. Ford that they are believed and showing transgender people that they won't be erased. Termination Dust is founded on intersectional feminism and evolves to include and support thier greater community however they can. This video is a protest and the protest is about radical support.

-Emma Sheffer (Director), Jaybird Parkhurst & Stefanie Vigoren

Interview feature by Karla Harris