Cult Escape Artists
Cult Escape Artists - Interview Podcast - Feature Documentary - Documentary Series
We dive in to stories of artists escaping cults from around the globe.
The director of the feature documentary WITNESS UNDERGROUND interviews artists, musicians, actors, directors, authors etc. who successfully navigated mind control tactics and got out of a cult. Through making our documentary, artists all over the world emerged with amazing music, art, and stories which we show off as powerful examples of resilience and empowerment.
Film short synopsis:
Witness Underground is a feature documentary that reveals the insular DIY music community that emerged within a high-control cult. Music, fame, and success are typically forbidden in this faith, who instruct its members to “beware of independent thinking.”
The artists at the heart of the music scene have their faith tested in deeply personal ways. They battle for positive mental health and push the boundaries of their religion’s norms, where leaving means being banned from interacting with your entire family and social circle for life.
Although severely restricted, they create the record label Nuclear Gopher and produce over 30 albums of earnest and personal music that spans singer/songwriter, riot grrrl, psychedelic rock, pop, EDM, shoegaze, and post-rock. Carefully curated songs and live performances punctuate their stories of friendship, deep loss, and personal growth.
Watch the film - Follow the podcast
WitnessUnderground.com
Watch:
Vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessunderground
Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
Youtube.com/@BananaIslandFilms
Cult Escape Artists
Blue Skys 3-Album Exit Trilogy - Valentine Riedman - Witness Underground Podcast #27
🎵 Join us in this impactful interview highlighting Valentine's three-album set: Go Die, Your Old Bones, and I Am Tyrant. These albums intricately weave together his escape from a repressive faith group and his triumphant emergence into newfound liberation. Our conversation is soundtracked by all three albums and all of his b-sides and singles! 🎵
🔔 Stay Engaged 🔔
Follow Blueskys:
Spotify - Blue Skys Three albums
B-Sides: SoundClick
Instagram - @Valejio
Watch XJW Coming Out series episodes and video podcast YouTube.com/@WitnessUnderground
SUPPORT AND WATCH: https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
Feature and Podcast: https://WitnessUnderground.com
Newsletter: https://sendfox.com/BananaIsland
🎶 Blue Skys Three Album Trilogy Unveiled 🎶
- Go Die: Kicking off the trilogy, this album captures the essence of Valentine's awakening within the confines of his faith. It's a testament to the power of music as a means of expression, allowing him to navigate the restrictive environment he found himself in.
- Your Old Bones: The second chapter of the trilogy, this album delves into Valentine's journey of self-discovery following his departure from the Jehovah's Witness cult. It's an exploration of rebirth and healing, beautifully reflected through his music.
- I Am Tyrant: Concluding the trilogy with triumphant notes, this album celebrates Valentine's newfound freedom and empowerment. It showcases his artistic evolution and his embrace of individuality and identity.
💥 Defining Moment: 'Jealousy' and Witness Underground 💥
Valentine's narrative gained broader recognition when his early composition 'Jealousy' was featured in the documentary Witness Underground, which sheds light on Nuclear Gopher, a music community born within the confines of a cult.
🌟 A Journey Beyond Borders 🌟
The religion's fervent drive in the 80s and 90s to spread its doomsday message took him to Ecuador as a teenager where he attended high school and participated in missionary activities, where the impending apocalyptic genocide by Jesus was preached with a sense of urgency.
Follow Failure To Thriving Podcast:
Instagram: @FailureToThriving @kidelle
Twitter: @FailureToThriving @kidelle
YOUTUBE GROWTH:
Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episodes:
https://bit.ly/WitnessUnderground
Watch now:
http://WitnessUnderground.com
https://tubitv.com/movies/100018684/witness-underground
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/witnessunderground
Support:
https://Patreon.com/WitnessUnderground
https://YouTube.com/@WitnessUnderground
Reach out directly:
XJWdoc@gmail.com
-Scott
