Behind the Video: Djentrified Discusses His “Welcome to the Abyss” Video Clip

It wouldn’t be out of place to say that everything Djentrified does, he does it with a high level of intensity. A few notes of his music, or a few seconds of his music videos or live performances, would be enough to back up this claim.

Based in Santa Barbara, California, Djentrified is the creation of Cousteau Bix Christopher. He is making a name for himself thanks to his highly appealing sonic creations that bring together djent, metalcore, and deathcore with personal and politically charged themes. He channels his own experiences with struggle and loss into his music, which makes it even more supercharged. His intention is to shine a light on issues or topics that are often ignored or overlooked.

And it’s not just through music that Christopher pursues his goals. He also directs and produces his own music videos, utilizing cinematic approaches to amplify the messages of his songs. His attempt is to create a connection with people, challenge them with his music, and in so doing, create an impact. There is no better example of this approach than his latest video for “Welcome to the Abyss.” (Be sure to watch this on YouTube!) The video features Christopher giving a fury-filled performance in a dimly lit “abyss.” The performance shots are intermixed with real-life news clips of some of the most dramatic societal events to take place in the United States over the last 30 years. His attempt is to confront these images head-on and force the audience to take account of the moral cost of these horrific events.

We are joined today by Christopher for a Behind the Video interview to discuss the “Welcome to the Abyss” clip as well as what he thinks of music videos in general.

What’s the concept behind the video? Help us to understand the video’s concept in more detail and how it ties into the lyrics.

Djentrified: “The concept behind the ‘Welcome to the Abyss’ music video was to have a visual representation of the plague of societal numbness and draining of empathy that we’ve all experienced to some degree, along with calling out the systems, events, and figureheads that have helped cultivate it. I wanted to drive the point home that no one is immune to this plague when our society has been haunted by the constant barrage of tragedies and trauma we’ve been forced to experience, and we must find a way out together. We must break off from those who have profited from social division, moral decay, and the erosion of empathy itself. The music video calls all of that out with explicit detail.”

If you could get one guest to be in one of your videos, who would it be? Why?

“I’d absolutely love to get Jordan Peele as a guest for a video. Mainly because I think it would be incredible to create/co-direct something with him. I absolutely admire his brilliance and his willingness to push the status quo, go face-to-face with injustice while making a teaching spectacle out of it, and a clever fearlessness to tackle the subjects that need to be discussed.”

What makes a music video “bad” or “good?” What makes it “great?”

“I think what makes a music video truly great is when it tells a story and transports the viewer through it, when it adds to the layers of depth behind the meaning of the song, and when it actually sends a message. You can find an abandoned warehouse anywhere, but if there’s no significance behind that choice, then it’s useless. This isn’t to say ‘single room/area locations for a music video is bad,’ it all comes down to how you use it.

“For ‘Welcome to the Abyss,’ every single shot of me is surrounded by empty blackness, but that is the point. There is intentionality there behind that choice that helps push the narrative; it is the visual representation of ‘the abyss.’ In this age of clickbait headlines and flashy graphics, I think it’s important to actually be able to tell a genuine story through the art.”

What’s your favourite thing about music videos?

“Music is (quite literally) a multidimensional experience in and of itself, with so many layers to unravel of a song’s meaning and its story when done right. Adding a visual component simply gives you a bigger, more elaborate canvas to paint with. Being able to complement the music video with visuals that solidify the themes or provide further insight and commentary that enhances the overall experience, that is my playground. I believe music videos provide the opportunity to create a piece of art that lands and truly resonates with the viewer on a deeper level, something that can truly connect with the soul. You can hear something and go ‘wow,’ but it’s exponentially impactful when it’s paired with striking visuals that fit just right.”

What do you think was the most controversial music video?

“Probably my other music video for ‘THIS SONG SHOULDN’T EXIST’ (laughs). It shouldn’t be controversial at all because the message at its core is ‘innocent people don’t deserve to die,’ yet inevitably, it is somehow considered very much controversial in this twisted world. I knew it would be extremely controversial, and that’s exactly why I made it.

“When there are societal shifts pushing us toward apathy and hatred, it becomes ‘controversial’ to be unapologetically empathetic and moral, and it also means that the world needs unapologetic empathy and morality that much more. When people back down or sacrifice their morals for comfort or to try to ‘smooth things over’ with those who are actively hurting others, it gets people killed. We’ve seen it time and time again throughout history, and the ones who actually get things done are those with solid backbones who refuse to bend and actively fight for what’s right.”

How important are music videos in terms of increased exposure?

“Music videos aren’t really important in terms of increased exposure for newer bands anymore. Lower-quality TikTok videos are the way to go if you want that exposure, virality, etc., but making the music videos for me is about creating something that actually moves the viewer. Music video creation is heavily about the art for me, and the message behind it. I don’t make my music videos like ‘Welcome to the Abyss’ and ‘THIS SONG SHOULDN’T EXIST’ with the intent of incorporating mainstream elements to try to gain more viewers and exposure. I’m looking at crafting an experience for the viewer that makes them sit back after watching and actually start asking genuine questions about the state of our reality and society, as well as what we can do about it.”

Is YouTube (or ‘online-only’ platforms) a good enough platform by itself to justify creating a music video?

“I created ‘THIS SONG SHOULDN’T EXIST’ and ‘Welcome to the Abyss’ music videos with the knowledge that they were probably going to be age-restricted and not populated on the site. I think the message and the impact are the most important parts. And I knew going into it that all my content was probably going to be suppressed to some extent, but that’s what resistance is about. Not much of a resistance if you give up at the first signs of resistance. Breakthroughs happen because of consistency, not just luck.”

Is a well-made DIY video just as good or beneficial as a professionally-made/directed video?

“I made the music videos for ‘Welcome to the Abyss’ and ‘THIS SONG SHOULDN’T EXIST’ basically by myself. My partner, Sami, helped make sure I was in focus on the camera, and I had another friend help me with one of the CG shots, but aside from that, the rest of it was my doing. I set up shots, collected footage, edited, created the VFX, and the rest. DIY doesn’t have to mean unprofessional; it just means to have to get creative and telling a genuine and gripping story through the resources you have available to you.”