When I interviewed the Atlanta-based art punks Warehouse for a Band To Watch feature back in February, we talked at length about their local scene, which is arguably one of the most intriguing underground music networks in the country. During the conversation, the band briefly mentioned their various side projects, as well as a record label germinated by the scene called Skeleton Realm, which is run by members of Warehouse and the band TV Dinner. Though the label primarily focuses on putting out local music, they also plan on allotting a fair amount of time and resources to creating unique video content.

Just a few weeks ago, Skeleton Realm released Transitions, the debut EP from Atlanta-based three-piece Breathers. The band recently returned from an East Coast tour with Warehouse, and though they boast disparate sounds, both bands commit to a similar inventive aesthetic. Nothing about songs like “New Life” immediately recall any contemporary points of reference, and that’s what makes their insular community seem so cohesive from an outsider’s perspective. The video for “New Life” was directed by Skeleton Realms’ Sam Wagstaff, and its a perfectly executed absurdist drama that perfectly mirrors the song’s carefree, cascading synths — an obvious nod to the 1980s vision of what “the future” would look like. An homage to trash culture, the protagonists’ garish costumery and makeup mimics some of the not-so-subtle perversion of John Waters’ least commercial films, it’s a love story centered around one of the most beloved comedies of the 1990s. If you’ve ever browsed the VHS section of a thrift store, then you know that Jerry Maguire is the most frequently disposed-of videotape of the 21st century. There’s always at least 15 sitting on the shelf, just waiting for a person who can tolerate Tom Cruise (is there such a person?) to seize it. Apparently there is such a person, and a Jerry Maguire obsession happens to be the catalyst for this video’s bizarre plotline. Check out Breathers’ tour dates and watch the video for “New Life” below.

Tour dates:
03/28 Athens, GA @ Slingshot Music Festival
04/01 Raleigh, NC @ King’s Barcade
04/02 Washington, D.C. @ U Street Music Hall
04/03 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Night Bazaar
04/04 Boston, MA @ Great Scott
05/14 Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight
05/15 Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
06/16 Nashville, TN @ High Watt

Transitions is out now via Skeleton Realm Records. Head over to Skeleton Realm’s website to see more of their video content.