Passion Pusher – Sauchiehall Street (Video Premiere)

Watch the new video for Sauchiehall Street by Passion Pusher

Video by Music Team | 08 May 2017

Attracting the attention of Song, by Toad label boss Matthew Young, James Gage – aka Passion Pusher – is set to release his Aquarium album via the label on 16 Jun. The album was recorded at Toad’s Happiness Hotel in Leith in just three days – social isolation, friendship politics, mental health and pizza are the subjects cited in relation to his latest collection of tracks.

Musically, Passion Pusher’s songs are reminiscent of both American indie and more local Scottish sounds. Beat Happening's lo-fi aesthetic, the wonky guitar melodies of Glaswegian cult heroes The Pastels, Jonathan Richman's wide-eyed proto punk and the early indie pop of Orange Juice are among a host of recognisable elements that combine to make up his sound.

Rarely exceeding the three-minute mark, Passion Pusher's songs may seem straightforward but their simplicity and pop sensibilities are not an attempt at crowd-pleasing. Slurred vocals and ramshackle delivery are not slacker style accessories, but rather displays of an inner monologue unconcerned with audience approval.

The Skinny are thrilled to be premiering the music video for Sauchiehall Street, a central point of Aquarium. Drawing inspiration from old family movies, Gage and his photographer friend Alice Smoth filmed the video on a Sony Handycam in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Gage tells us: “Sauchiehall street is Glasgow's high street. It's as unremarkable as any other UK high street. I wrote the song when I was working in a bar just off Sauchiehall street. I would walk up the street during the day and back down at 5am, always somehow running into someone I didn't want to see.

“It's about avoiding human contact by taking the longer way home. It's also one of my favourite tracks on the album and a pure pop banger.”

Watch the video in the player above.


Aquarium is out on 16 Jun via Song, by Toad. You can pre-order the album here.

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