Gunship

Gunship Return With A New Video Collaboration featuring Kat Von D for “Black Blood Red Kiss”

By T.J. went on to reach #34 on the UK Charts, Synthwave artists Gunship have as well as #1 on the UK Dance Charts just released a new video for their song and #6 on the UK Indie Charts. Over all, “Black Blood Red Kiss.” “Black Blood it was quite an impressive release for the Red Kiss” is a song off of the band’s band. second album release, Dark All Day. Two years later when the band Although Dark All Day was released two decided to do the video for the song, they years ago, it has still been getting quite a decided to enlist the help of Kat Von D. bit of attention, and the band thought that She had participated in the recording of this would be the right time to present a the song 2 years earlier, so it seemed just new video for the song. natural to bring her in. Of course, it Gunship is the British Synthwave didn’t hurt that Kat is quite beautiful and band formed by Dan Haigh and Alex alluring, which is something that this Westaway in 2014. They were joined video needed. On the recording of the later on by drummer Alex Gingell and song in 2018, she provided a ‘warm and they formed a trio. Their debut release atmospheric’ vocal performance to the was the self-titled Gunship, which was chorus as well a dramatic vocal buildup released the following year in 2015. at the end of the song. Kat Von D is a Since the release of that first album, the Mexican-American musician, author and band has been getting rave reviews. tattoo artist. You may have seen here on It took Gunship three years before the American television show LA Ink. they released their sophomore album, “I’ve always been a fan of dark Dark All Day in 2018. Dark All Day wave and synth heavy bands like 40 Rock and Blues International • August 2020 Rock and Blues International • October 2020 Depeche Mode, The Cure and IAMX, so when I heard Gunship for the first time, it was all the things I loved rolled into one band,” says Kat. “Gunship is by far my favorite synth wave band because they always marry nostalgic synth sounds with dark and melancholy lyrics that strikes me at my core. I think it’s safe to say that I’m probably the biggest Gunship fan out there, so when they asked me to sing on “Black Blood Red Kiss” I was half excited and half intimidated! But once I heard the demo, it felt like a perfect match made in heaven... or hell.” The song is filled with the many synthesizer sounds that Gunship is known for, coupled with the sensual vocals of Alex Westaway. To quote the presskit provided to us, the union of Kat Von D and Alex Westaway “creates a steady mood that is inevitably corrupted by industrial timbres, building pressure

Kat Von D video still from“Black Blood Red Kiss” until the song breaks into its warm that they were both attracted to a lot of nylon catsuit in a bathtub full of black symphonic chorus. The song reaches its the same bands. Eventually, the two of water for hours?! The only downside to end with a pair of emotional and omithem started sharing vocal and music making the video, aside from getting nous vocal builds which, in turn, files through their email, which finally black gunk stuck in every part of my culminate in a pile-driver-heavy concluculminated in the finished product, body, was not being able to film it in the sion.” “Black Blood Red Kiss.” same room with the band. I think fans One thing that is very interesting Well things have come full circle are going to love having the beautiful about this collaboration between Kat and now and the two of them collaborating dark imagery to go with the song, and I Gunship is that the two of them have much the same way have finally put can’t wait to work with GUNSHIP again never met face-to-fact. Everything that together a video for this fine song. The soon, whether it’s on music or eventually transpired between them was handled music video was directed by acclaimed getting to play live together.” strictly over the internet. It started when director Polygon (Bring Me The HoriThe video for this song is simply Kat first heard the band’s self-titled zon, Grimes) who made heavy use of fantastic. It has been said that ‘the visual debut. From there it resulted in converglitch art. “I had such a blast working on cues draw unmistakable inspiration from sations between the two of them. It the video,” Kat smiles. “I mean, who Cronenberg’s Videodrome, which didn’t take long for each of them to find doesn’t enjoy bathing in a fully body merged the lines between captured reality and accidental analog / digital artifacts in a surreal and visceral fashion.’ We checked out the video the day after it was posted and it had already amassed over 48,000 views. That’s 48,000 plus, views in less that 24 hours. This is strictly unbelievable. Be sure to check out the new video for “Black Blood Red Kiss” as soon as you get a chance. It is without a doubt…. Fantastic. Congratulations go out to Gunship and Kat Von D for such a wonderful video still from“Black Blood Red Kiss” video! October 2020 • Rock and Blues International 41