ABOUT

Gagged and screaming from the umbilical tongue, “Stick Figures” is a queer nonbinary allegory— a final dance with a version of self who must die in order to live closer to liberation. Bound and extended by the fabrics of psychic gristle, “Stick Figures” moves through the ritual schism of birth, a glamorous yet indignant intervention between Mother Trickster and Baby Rascal, and then floral devastation-release at the peak of a waterfall. The music is gushes’ composition of the same title, scoring the salt of seduction on the lunge of bloodletting flight. An exercise in Kapwa– a concept in Indigenous Filipino psychology that refers to seeing oneself in the other, the music video illuminates queer Asian Americana in the midst of the Catskill Mountains, an otherwise predominantly white conservative space. In “Stick Figures,” bodies are one, vibrating to the storied textures of land and devouring flowers in unbound expressions of liberation. 

SCREENINGS

Stick Figures premiered as a living room gathering and third space at the artist’s home in Brooklyn, presented by PTP, inviting other artists to share and discuss their work and the music video format on July 26th, 2025.

The video was screened at gushes’ Album Listening Party on October 3rd, 2025 at Lichen in Queens, presented by PTP x Switch Hit.

Stick Figures was selected for POLLEN VIDEO SPELLS at CAVE in Brooklyn, presented by Benja Thompson and LEIMAY Foundation on November 2nd, 2025.

PERSONAL NOTE

Instead of lip-syncing my song to camera for this music video (all respect to those who rightfully exercise this star move), I wanted to direct, shoot, and edit this piece. Auspiciously, the two performers in this video, Kris Seto and Che'Li entered my life this Spring in the wake of losing our dear mutual friend and icon, láwû makuriye’nte.

Láwû (aka Mango) was the most powerful Pinoy artist/activist I’ve ever known. This video is dedicated to their thriving, ever-inspiring/conspiring spirit, whose roar will forever vibrate my bones and whose explicit love gushes eternal.

Kris and I met at Láwu’s memorial service at Star Route Farm in the Catskills. After the event, I visited Kris’ home, Mosquito Point Roadhouse, and was instantly inspired to create something there. This video was filmed on location at these important queer havens.

This production was a heavy labor of love with our team of just 3. Over the course of 5 days in self-directed, non-funded residency together, we co-conceptualized, cross-pollinated personal mythologies, and built a collective altar. While we didn't yet know each other very well, we trusted in the coming together of intergenerational queer Asian diaspora. I began learning and falling in love with cinematography, and challenging my typically hyper-prepared Capricorn self with mythmaking on the fly & feel of the day and weather. My 2 brilliant performers/muses/fam, Che'Li and Kris Seto had me SCREAMING behind the camera at the spectrum of their beauty, grace, vulnerable softness to raging, cutting, serving teeth. Working wiyh and witnessing them felt like the most empowering mirror to everything I hope to communicate through my art. Such is the practice of kapwa. 

xoJ

VIDEO CREDITS

gushes - music

Jennae Santos - producer, director, cinematographer, camera, grip, editor, colorist

Che’Li - performer, stylist

Kris Seto - performer, stylist

Filmed on Location at Mosquito Point Roadhouse, Star Route Farm in and Kaaterskill Falls on unceded Haudenosaunee, Mohican, and Mohawk land.

Special thanks - Matt Evans, Laura Sofía Perez, Ryan Santos Phillips, Stephanie Ibarra, Joseph Imhauser, Kendra McKinley, Elizabeth Ibarra

SONG CREDITS

Jennae Santos - songwriter, guitar, vocals, co-producer

Chris Connors - co-producer, arranger

Dave Palazola - drums

Eva Lawitts - bass

Gabriel Zucker - synths + organ

Katie Jacoby - violin

Domenica Fossati - flute

Daniel “Booty” Siuba - additional vox

Recorded by Carlos Hernandez at Gravesend Recordings, Chris Connors at Concrete Sound & Jennae Santos at home in Brooklyn. Mixed by Ryan Santos Phillips. Mastered by Sarah Register.   

TIP$

If you feel even further compelled to throw some extra love our way, we accept tips in to help recoup the following expenses…

• approx $4k in travel costs, gear rental, set pieces, meals, & location fees

• approx $14k in unpaid shooting labor & post production