The Anishinaabe post-punk band Ribbon Skirt is making waves with the announcement of their highly anticipated new album, Bite Down, set to drop on April 11 via Mint Records. If their latest release is any indication, this record promises to be a raw and riveting addition to the genre.
The band has also unveiled the music video for their latest single, “Wrong Planet”, a stunning visual and emotional journey. Shot in the vibrant, kitschy setting of a prom dress store on Montreal’s iconic St. Hubert Plaza, the video brilliantly mirrors the song’s emotional intensity, creating a vivid juxtaposition of chaos and beauty. Amidst shimmering gowns and flickering lights, lead vocalist Buswa delivers a raw, frustrated performance, belting out lyrics like, “I think I don’t love you / I really love you”. These words perfectly capture the tension between self-doubt and emotional vulnerability, a theme that anchors the track.
Director Ana-Maria Espino Trudel, with assistant director Colin Ratchford, crafts a narrative that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. The video crescendos into a breathtaking, explosive outro, with Buswa’s cathartic scream breaking through a cracked glass—an arresting metaphor for the disorienting feeling of being trapped in a world where you don’t belong. As Buswa wrestles with whether to conform or stay true to herself, the haunting visual of a glass box becomes both an escape and a prison, encapsulating the endless push and pull of identity and acceptance.
Dancers Laura Jeffrey and Heather Lynn add an extra layer of dynamism to the video, their movements echoing the internal conflict that drives the song. “Wrong Planet” is more than just a music video—it’s a visceral, immersive experience that captures the raw, unfiltered heart of Ribbon Skirt’s artistry.
With Bite Down on the horizon, Ribbon Skirt has delivered a compelling preview that leaves no doubt: this band is redefining post-punk, one emotionally charged anthem at a time.