The storyline of the seven-plus minute music video for “Sad Girls Dance Party” is a fantastical and other-worldly story of a young boy coming into his personhood. Growing up in a suppressive environment, the young boy’s father catches him putting on makeup in secret and slaps him. Creating a world of his own, merging characters that both illicit fear as well as comfort, he finds a place where he can learn to accept himself. Drawing from his own personal experiences as growing up gay in the conservative south, English brings a sense of resolve and urgency in creating a safe space for this young boy of his past. With the basement being English’s only safe space to freely express himself, he decided to focus the central story line on the freedom he felt dancing in the empty room with a fog machine and Christmas lights.“I’m just a freak in this fucked up scene.”
Related article: Lesbian Bed Death Delivers Devilish New Video Teaming up with director Hao Jer Chang, the pair wrote and directed the music video, which is not only the tale of English’s childhood but it is also pays homage to his love of horror films. English says the title of the upbeat track in fact comes from a very deliberate place of trauma and confusion. “The reason it’s called “Sad Girls Dance Party” is because years ago, when I would order at a drive-thru, my voice had not changed yet, so to someone that couldn’t see me, they assumed I was a girl. At the time, this was very traumatizing for someone who was dealing with the confusing mix of shame over my sexuality and the brainwashing oppressive standards of gender and masculinity imposed on me as a child,” English says. Through his music, English is able to explore his past, bring queer authenticity and representation to the genre of pop-punk, and trust his own creativity.
