In the new video for the Sun Machine’s “Body by the Water,” a mysterious woman in white becomes entranced by a psychedelic vampire, who summons her out of the woods to a gathering where she allows herself to be sacrificed.
Over the Austin quintet’s dark jangle, punctuated by rushing backup vocals and a screaming Farfisa organ, Nate Rendon sings, “I know you heard about it/ I know you read about it/ They found a body by the water/ They say she came back to haunt us.”
While the song takes its inspiration from the tragic 2016 murder of University of Texas student Haruka Weiser, the video directed by I.S. Mancha transforms the tune into a soundtrack to an occult possession. Madison Sewell plays the female lead, while Acid Light Show projectionist Thomas Gallegos portrays the mysterious man who beguiles her.
“Body by the Water” is coming down the pike on 7-inch vinyl co-released via Mas Music Records and the Electric Church, the DIY venue operated by members of the Sun Machine. The quintet plays there three times during South by Southwest: Wed., March 13, 11pm; Sat., March 16, 6:15pm; and Sun., March 17, 11pm.
“Body by the Water” creeps here:
This article appears in March 1 • 2019.