Perth act Alter Boy, comprising three deaf/hard-of-hearing band members, are doing huge things to champion disability representation in Australian music and challenge the definition of music, expanding the way it’s composed, delivered and discussed.
They recently released their debut EP Act of God, featuring singles like its title track and ‘Slay King’, both of which arrived alongside videos performed in Auslan (Australian Sign Language). Reflecting the dual identities of the band’s members, there is various methods and arrangements of each song – alternating between sound and silence, and combining elements of both.
“Some of the songs exist, while some exist partially, and others not at all; it’s all in an effort to subvert the traditional music experience by flipping the script and alienating the hearing listener,” explains the band’s Molly/Aaron.
Today, we’re lucky to be premiering the video for EP track ‘In Death We Wed’. The song itself tells the story of the relationship between the gay lovers of ancient Greek mythology, and exists in two distinct formats: one deaf and one hearing.
The former is what we’re presenting, the song’s narrative communicated by performer Laura Bullock. Watch that below.
