Feature Video: RATSALAD. - We Definitely Do Not Sell Vapes - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

In this day and age, it’s hard for artists to get a bite of the monetary cherry of their own art. Streaming platforms have exponentially transformed the industry's economy, forcing musicians down different avenues to make a crust. Alas, it’s positive to see that hard working bands like RATSALAD. haven’t resorted to petty crime to help pay the bills. 

‘We Definitely Do Not Sell Vapes’ is a PSA from the Jambinu/Geraldton group who are clearly sick of being asked if they flog e-cigs behind the merch desk. The band, who have gone from jamming in their country WA kitchen to playing their feral brand of tomfoolery across the world, were inspired to make the musical statement after a recent run of globetrotting.

“After returning from our first overseas tour and seeing how freely vapes are sold in Europe, versus the bizarre black market that's been created in Australia, it really intrigued us,” says the band. “We found it hilarious how brazen the "convenient stores" here were about selling illegal vapes, or the kid from the local footy club hustling them out to make extra cash.”

“One day when listening to Notorious B.I.G. rap about his own drug dealing to finance his music, it clicked to write our own version of illegal activities, obviously with a huge dose of Aussie sarcasm rolled in.”

With rhymes that flow between ‘super rich’ and ‘tin mans dick’, ‘fucking sick’ and ‘cancer stick’, it was clear that ‘We Definitely Do Not Sell Vapes’ was ripe for a visual companion. To do so, RATSALAD. brought in the filmmaking efforts of Matt Czabotar and Jackson De Piazza of Primate Pictures:

“"RATSALAD. are the hardest working band in Australia. We knew we had to make their debut video clip something special as they go on to world domination. We wanted to make it clear that they definitely do not sell vapes, but upon further reflection we failed at that..."

Filmed across a long 13 hour day in Fremantle, Primate Pictures used timeless slapstick formulas from the likes of Scooby Doo and Wayne’s World to overanimate villains, speed up running sequences, and of course wrap it up with a musical number with all the friends we made along the way. 

The band adds: “I want this song to be the "convenient store" equivalent that the tune Greensleeves is for ice cream trucks, a signal to all; We Definitely Do Not Sell Vapes.”