“Swarm”: the surprising cameos and references to the music industry in the Prime Video series

The Swarm: Murderous Obsession (swarm) is a black comedy and psychological horror that recently premiered on the Prime Video catalog. It is behind two great creators, Donald Glover and Janine Nabers, who worked together on the acclaimed series Atlanta. The story follows the young Dre Greene, played by Dominique Fishback (The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray), in his obsession with a pop star who takes a very dark direction.

Fiction takes something very common in human behavior, fanaticism, and turns it into a sick desire. The title uses the word “swarm” having been inspired by the “Bey Hive” fan group that follows Beyoncé. In fact, the fictional singer Ni’Jah bears many similarities to the multiple Grammy Award-winning artist, from aesthetics to musical genre.

The plot delves into Dre’s life as a teenager who is fond of this artist, her routine within a fandom and how this adoration ends up becoming a very unhealthy aspect of it. In turn, the production plays with certain true references to the music industry and invites faces from the current generation of singers to participate as part of the cast.

From Paris Jackson to Billie Eilish, the cameos of “Swarm”

With the passage of each chapter, Dre gets closer to new people who make his environment more complex and drag his beloved series into this macabre journey. swarm It is allowed to play with irony and winks to the music, and part of it occurs with the special participation of some stars of this scene.

Billie Eilish, 21 years old and considered an icon of Gen Z, develops as an actress in the role of Eva, the leader of a cult of female empowerment that welcomes the protagonist. As you remember, the interpreter of “Bad Guy” and “Happier Than Ever” was born as an artist very young, she was barely 15 years old when she achieved world fame, and it is a great example of how this excessive attention can also become a problem at such an early stage (harassment in networks, sexualization, etc).

On the other hand, Chloe Bailey –from the Chloe x Halle duo– also shines as Dre’s sister, Ris Jackson. Along with her Halle (soon to be Disney’s new Little Mermaid), both became known for their great singing skills and even became Beyoncé’s protégés.

The greatest reference of swarm comes across the cameo of Paris Jackson, who looks unrecognizable with black hair. Michael Jackson’s second daughter gives life to a stripper and is known by the name of Halsey. How does the model and actress relate to the famous singer? In her dialogue, she explains it, since she claims to have been discriminated against for being “black” and, to Dre’s surprise, she explains that it is because her father is “half black.” More than one viewer was left speechless.

The new Donald Glover is available to watch on Prime Video from March 16.

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