“Thick thighs, sundress, I’m looking good” is your new seasonal mantra. In “Thunder Thighs,” the latest video from Miss Eaves, a Brooklyn-based musician, artist, designer and director, a gaggle of gorgeous women and girls take to the stoops and streets of Bed-Stuy flaunting, and feeling obviously great about it. The clip, which we’re debuting here, will leave you just the same; it’s true, organic body positivity without pandering because it’s very real, an electro bass jam that asserts itself casually, confident enough that it knows it doesn’t have to convince anyone.
“Thunder Thighs” is the follow-up to Miss Eaves’s acclaimed self-pleasure anthem “Hump Day,” above, and the first single from her forthcoming album Feminasty, out August 4. Jezebel spoke to Miss Eaves, whose real name is Shanthony Exum, over email about writing the song and directing the video, feeling awesome about one’s self, and what’s coming with Feminasty. Our conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.
JEZEBEL: When did you first write “Thunder Thighs”?
MISS EAVES: I love wearing sundresses, so in the summer chub rub is a constant struggle. I wrote “Thunder Thighs” last summer after a particularly hot day when I came home and started listening to a beat KEISHH sent me. Thanks to a lifetime of experience having thick thighs, I was able to write the song in about an hour.
How did you come up with something fresh and new when “body positivity” has become so diluted and corporatized?
When I am writing music I want to honestly represent my experiences. I am not too concerned with writing about things that are on trend or popular… I want to come from a more genuine place. This track is really about me embracing my body but also finding the humor in issues thicker people face. (“Mom jeans all day, why you mad tho?”)
You direct your music videos, and this one is nigh perfect. Who are the women and girls who joined you? Where did you film it?
Thank you! I co-directed this video with my friend April Maxey. The cast members are either friends, friends of friends or volunteer actors from a casting agency. It was really important to me to be very inclusive in casting and celebrate a variety of bodies.
The location was around my block in Bed Stuy. Since I also produced the video, it was important for me use my own hood since that is where I have the most community support. I legit tracked down the neighborhood ice cream truck guy and hit him up until he agreed to show on my block the day of the shoot. I really love my neighborhood and this video is also a tribute to summer in Brooklyn.
Did you style it, or did everyone wear their own stuff? I am really psyched on the older women who were like “F a bra.”
I styled myself, and with the exception of the Team Thunder chain (courtesy of @catcalldesigns) I made all of my jewelry (my background is in visual art and graphic design so I am about that DIY life). April and I pulled together a style board and sent it out to the women so they could have inspiration for color palette and mood. Our main request was everyone wear something they feel comfortable and confident in. I love that Parvati and Marjorie (the older women) showed up sans bra. It was a total empowering zero F’s moment.
I also really love the little girl in here. Who is she? Are young girls really about this body positivity life now? Where was this when I was a kid…
Oh Brianna! What a star! We found her via one of Max’s (Uncle Meg) music videos. I hit up her and her mom to see if she would be down to participate. She is such a professional and legit learned every word of my song, slaying the lip sync with RuPaul-like precision. I really hope I can work with her more in the future.
I am not sure if young girls are about that body positive life, but it is so important from a young age they see a variety of bodies being celebrated and people living happy and genuine lives.
You also do a style Instagram called The Every Body Project, which is a pretty good companion to this video! When did you start it and what was the impetus?
I started the Every Body Project three years ago when I was having trouble finding style blogs featuring people who look like me. Taking the advice to create projects I want to see in the world, I decided to make a blog that features fly people from all walks of life, sizes and ages.
As a designer, I am obsessed with color, patterns and shapes and how people combine them. The Every Body Project is a way for me to catalogue my discoveries and a way to collect stylish items without consuming material goods. For me, it is very important to focus on style over brands and to show that anyone can have style and interpret style in various ways.
What should we expect from Feminasty?
Feminasty is an exploration of my feminist feelings and sexuality, covering themes like: female masturbation, men telling me to smile, Tinder f-buddies and shaking off internet trolls. It includes a collaboration with my friend MC Frontalot on “Boyfriend Material,” a track about creating the perfect mate…literally, with a drill and a saw. Produced by KEISHH, the vibe straddles wild-out dance and sultry grind music. I am so pumped on it.