Montreal’s Ribbon Skirt Release Haunting New Single and Video for “Cellophane”
Grief descends into desperation in Ribbon Skirt’s frenetic new single, “Cellophane.” Led by Anishinaabe musician Tashiina Buswa, Ribbon Skirt is a band from Montreal, formerly known as Love Language. This single marks their change in name and brings with it a darker and more introspective sound, dealing with themes of memory, grief, and Buswa’s connection to her Indigenous identity and cultural practices.
The video features Anishinaabe singer Tashiina Buswa reflecting on her late grandfather’s passing. As she tears through a frozen landscape of memory, she’s driven by the fear of losing her cultural connection, which was nurtured by hearing her grandfather speak Anishinaabemowin and teaching her to set rabbit snares on the family trapline. In the video, Buswa transforms from the hunter to the hunted, realizing she cannot escape her own death nor save anyone from it.
Icy drum machines, frantic breathing, and gritty guitars mirror Buswa’s desperate attempts at “ripping through the cellophane, kicking through the window panes” to reach her grandfather again. Upon confronting the inevitability of loss, she begins to take her cultural affinity into her own hands, honoring her grandfather’s legacy and accepting her own role in preserving their traditions.
This release follows up EP Indian Cowboy which landed them acclaim across Dominated & Indie 88 and landed the band bookings at festivals across Canada and the US including SXSW, New Colossus, Sled Island, Sappyfest, Flourish, and Pop Montreal, where they’ve shared stages with, among others, and Dehd, Ombiigizi, Packs, Chad VanGaalen and Enumclaw. Coming up in 2025 will be the release of Ribbon Skirt’s debut full-length album, produced by Scott ‘Monty’ Munro (Preoccupations) and Marlaena Moore, mixed by Greg Saunier (Deerhoof).