The musicians collaborated with the queer country dance party Stud Country for the visual
Julien Baker and Torres threw a country hoedown in the music video for their debut single “Sugar in the Tank.” Created in collaboration with the queer dance party Stud Country, the clip brings a bit of cowboy culture to New York City.
“We were really honored that the Stud Country folks were willing to have fun with us and prepare this line dance for the song,” Baker and Torres shared in a statement. The video features original choreography from Stud Country’s Sean Monaghan, plus key dancers from the collective. The two artists perform “Sugar in the Tank” from the stage in the clip, playing banjo and guitar for the audience as they shuffle and swing along to the dance.
“Everyone involved is so talented and they were patient and sweet with us while we learned the moves,” the pair added. “For us it’s particularly special to find someplace and some people to do cowboy shit with here in NYC.”
According to the Stud Country website, the program was “born from the legacy of queer dance spaces and honors the rich history of LGBTQ cowboy culture.” Monaghan is one of two leading instructors who teach social dancing through a country lens, often mixing in pop and disco.
“We were so excited to cast people from our community including Geo [Jedlicka] who has been dancing in NYC for three decades,” Monaghan said in a statement. “Having established artists like Julien and Torres, who’ve actually been to our events, collaborate with us during this country revival is incredible.”
The collaboration connected with Jae Cripe, a Stud Country regular and DJ, who said: “It’s been very healing for me as a trans person who was raised in the South to reconnect with this part of myself in a place that feels safe, supportive, and also happens to be full of very hot and nice queer people.”
