Julie Christmas has released the video for her haunting track "The Ash", taken from her latest album Ridiculous and Full of Blood out now via Red Crk. Directed by Derrick Belcham, the video is a raw, intimate portrayal of the people closest to Christmas and her band, weaving together scenes of dancers, masked figures, and close friends. It’s a deeply personal, visceral snapshot of life, echoing the emotional intensity of the song itself.
"The Ash" exemplifies Christmas' talent for merging stark, often unsettling imagery with a musical style that walks the line between beauty and brutality. Shot in muted tones, the video perfectly complements the song's dark atmosphere, heightening the tension between its slow-burning verses and explosive climaxes. Christmas' voice shifts effortlessly from a fragile whisper to a fierce wail, capturing the raw emotionality of themes like loss and longing. The visual storytelling deepens this dynamic, evoking an eerie intimacy that lingers long after the music fades. Belcham’s direction, combined with Christmas’ creative vision, results in a cinematic yet gritty piece that mirrors the song’s intensity. With its pulsating rhythms and Christmas’ signature vocal range, "The Ash" serves as a powerful centrepiece for Ridiculous and Full of Blood, her first album in 14 years.
Speaking on the video, Christmas describes it as:
“Girls dancing for hours, boys in masks gathering imaginary hordes of minions, neighbours, friends and family in a steady stream; sweat, muscle, blood, tears and fairy lights. Just like the song itself, The Ash video is a deeply personal glimpse into each of the lives of the band. Derrick Belcham helped us capture the beautiful, powerful people around us in glimpses that remind us that individuality deserves, at the very least, a flashing moment of celebration.”
Ridiculous and Full of Blood has already made waves since its release earlier this year, with critics hailing it as a triumph of genre-defying composition and live performances at major festivals like Hellfest, ArcTanGent and Roskilde have only cemented its place as a standout release of 2024.
The new album features a line-up of impressive collaborators, including Johannes Persson (Cult of Luna) and Chris Enriquez (Spotlights). The music navigates between alt-pop and post-metal, offering a sonic landscape as unpredictable as Christmas herself. The record, full of emotional complexity and raw power, has been met with praise for its fearless storytelling and genre-bending approach.
With the release of "The Ash", Julie Christmas continues to push boundaries, creating a world that is as dark as it is beautiful. For fans of her earlier work, and those newly discovering her, this video is an enthralling addition to her ever-evolving catalogue.
Stream Ridiculous and Full of Blood now, and watch the video for “The Ash”:
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