All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts
– As You Like It, Act II Scene VII Line 139
In this era of perpetual performance and social media self-promotion, it seems that everything we do is captured for the camera: from our daily skincare routines, to sharing random anecdotes or showing off our outfits of the day. But when it comes to filmed intimate encounters, the consequences can be devastating, as Pamela Anderson can attest to. On the flip side, such footage can also catapult one to fame, like Kim Kardashian. In America, where puritanical values and corporate greed reign supreme, both condemnation and titillation sell equally well.
We’ve certainly come a long way since the days of “sex, lies and videotape.” Nowadays, people can effortlessly peddle their intimate lives as a side hustle on OnlyFans. Yet, the exploitation of the creative force through media overload manifests in many forms, and this is where The Sex Tape Sessions comes into play: a multimedia, multi-format, and multi-channel art piece by Kill Shelter and Death Loves Veronica. This project offers commentary on the artistic process and the commodification of personality in music.
The artists question the very notion of authenticity, uniqueness, and value in an era where pornography and music exist in identically oversaturated digital worlds, both freely available and easily pirated without consequence. The easy accessibility of both media has stripped them of their impact, prompting a deeper examination of the use of redundant technology and niche platforms for distribution. The Sex Tape Sessions is a provocative and thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between art, technology, and commodification. They are, effectively, releasing their art the same way one would have done with the old-fashioned sex tape. In doing so, they’re reclaiming the endangered elements of naughtiness, voyeurism and anticip….ation.
“There’s a lot more to this release than people realize – it’s an art film hidden within an album release, one that has to be pieced together, solved, and for some, this will be an unattainable feat,” says Death Loves Veronica frontwoman Veronica Stich. “Parts have been leaked, sold – but not entirely. It’s a soundtrack of desire, human sin and most of all, pleasure – the pleasure of dance, rhythmic beats, color, black and white, sound and life.”
The collection includes an eight-track EP with new material as well as remixes of tracks taken from Death Loves Veronica’s album “Chemical”. This includes the use of bootleg tapes, mini DV and VHS cassettes as well as limited runs of vinyl, CD and cassette.
Various pre-release bootleg cassettes and VHS tapes were put into circulation ahead of the official 17 March release. The bootleg VHS videos, which sold out in a matter of minutes, contain material that does not appear in any of the official releases. Owners of the Bootleg Tapes and Videos are encouraged, wherever possible, to copy, share and redistribute the material in whatever way, and by any means, they see fit.
“On one level, this release is a statement about the commercialisation of personality and the devaluation and proliferation of music,” says Kill Shelter’s Pete Burns. “On another it’s an absolute and unbridled celebration of female sexuality. It’s provocative, empowering, polarising and challenging.”
“I never expected something so deep or so personal from this collaboration – it almost reveals too much,” adds Stich. “I think listeners will be drawn in, if not by primal curiosity, by intrigue or simply a desire for more. I can only hope it captivates those curious and daring enough to take a listen.”
The video for Sex Tape features Veronica lying on a bed as she directly talks to the camera – taunting us, asking what we want and why – but we don’t see the end product, we become the filming voyeur as she asks the tough questions. The experience of sex becomes less about human connection, and more about connection with the camera – and how pleasure appears rather than feels.
As a token of appreciation and in a bid to promote their latest release, Kill Shelter and Death Loves Veronica are generously gifting two music videos from their “The Sex Tape Sessions” EP for gratis download and sharing. This exciting opportunity is open to all fans, followers, and those who are simply curious – the artist grant full rights to use, upload, and distribute these videos without limitation, be it for commercial or non-commercial purposes.
Find them here.
But wait, there’s more! The tantalizing tale of the “Sex Tape Sessions” will be unfolding across various media channels in the upcoming weeks, so stay tuned.
Listen to the album on Spotify:
Veronica Stich is a multi-talented artist with a wealth of accolades to her name, from being an award-winning writer and producer to composing and performing music for various post-punk and deathrock outfits. With her solo project, she blends a variety of instruments and experimental methods to create a dark electronic sound that harkens back to the glory days of the 80s and 90s electronic post-industrial and new wave movement.
Kill Shelter is UK based alternative artist and producer Pete Burns. His unique work blends elements of Darkwave and contemporary Electronica with heavily processed guitars. His debut album “Damage” (2018) was originally released by Unknown Pleasures Records. This was followed up by the 2021 release, “A Haunted Place” with Antipole. His highly acclaimed 2022 release “Asylum” is currently available via Metropolis Records and Manic Depression Records. Following a series of remixes including She Past Away’s “Soluk” for their tenth anniversary release “X” on Metropolis and Fabrika Records, The Wake’s “Emily Closer” and Spectre (Love is Dead) by Christian Death on Cleopatra Records amongst many others, Kill Shelter is currently working on material for two LPs.
The Sex Tape Sessions EP is available on vinyl, CD, VHS and cassette via Cold Transmission Music:
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