Hi! Can you share the inspiration behind the title and lyrics of “Mania”?
A: Hello! Mania started off initially as a direct rewrite of ‘Under The Moon’. I knew that I wanted something to follow it but wasn’t quite sure yet what that would be. Then one day, I was in the shower, and I just had a moment of clarity after my mind was racing over a fantasy that was playing through. In came the hook, I just started singing “It’s mania” over and over again, and that’s when the entire concept came to me. The lyrics centre around the way one’s mind can race when they first meet someone and there’s a spark of wonder, curiosity and uncertainty. It’s depicted in two ways, but I wanted it also to be left for the listener’s mind to wander. It was written in a way that depicts the meeting of someone in a club and there’s that initial spark of attraction, and also, to serve to the greater narrative of ‘Under The Moon’ as a whole, the alternative interpretation is written as a monologue to ‘The Scientist’ who is the first person I see when I wake up from my experiment.
How did the concept of the music video for “Mania” come about?
A: The concept for the video was quite literally derived from the narrative nature of the song, as well as wanting to serve as a direct sequel to my lead single, and first Music Video ‘Out Of Reach’. I wanted to tell the tale of me being crafted into a ‘perfect’ pop entity. However, the experiment goes awry when I come into my own consciousness and power with everything that has been fed into me to become this product. It’s my own personal take on how the industry that is music, entertainment, and Hollywood, would craft these stars from regular people. I knew I wanted certain elements to displayed in this video, as well as certain references that all intertwined to make the video, and the narrative make sense. I wanted this video to be a very Pop centric music video, aiding to the overall theme. When it came to creating the visual aspect of the video, I turned to references in movies like ‘The Fifth Element’ and the ‘Resident Evil’ live action saga, as well as the late director visionary Stanley Kubrick. On top of that, I also turned to music videos like ‘Bad Romance’, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’, and ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’. I wanted to exhibit elements of fashion, dance, sex appeal, Science Fiction, dystopian fantasy, Hollywood and celebrities.
What was it like filming at Gold Coast Studio in Burleigh Heads, Queensland? How did the location contribute to the overall feel of the video?
A: It was a wonderful studio to work in, and the space that we were able to work with really aided to creating this very clinical and clean aesthetic that I wanted to convey throughout the video. Luckily with the entirety of the video fitting in a similar setting, as well as the space that we had, it made everything really easy and smooth for everyone working on the shoot to execute what we needed effectively and efficiently.
Can you talk about your collaboration with Steven Caldwell and Dom Bradley in directing the music video?
A: Gladly! Steven and his team at Caldwell Entertainment I had worked with previously on ‘Out Of Reach’ with, and knowing how we all worked together on that, as well as their incredible work on the final product made me confident in working with them again. Both Steven and his crewmate Jayden Carlson were amazing when it came to the camera work, editing and piecing together the final product. As for Dom, he’s a wonderful friend of mine. A truly talented actor and visionary. Seeing how he had worked previously on creative projects, turning ideas into a reality, made me confident on who I was choosing to collaborate closely with me when it came to making sure my vision was brought to life. A particular shining moment of his creativity is shown in the scene where my products (Lucy Bancroft and Evie Ford) and I are in a tableau that resembles a combination of a renaissance painting, and Christ on the cross. Something that I didn’t even think of that really elevated the thematic nature of this idol like figure that I’m supposedly being created as. He was an incredible help for me too when it came to organising and structuring the project on our end, I can definitely say it wouldn’t have been as organised if it was just myself trying to handle all of that, I’m a terrible organiser. I know that when it comes to projects in the future, he is someone I would have at the top of my list to work with.
The character of ‘The Scientist’ played by Isabella Jones is a significant part of the video. Can you elaborate on her role and how it ties into the song’s narrative?
A: I’d like to mention firstly, of Isabella’s amazing performance in the video. She really leaned into the role and anything that was asked, she made sure she delivered. Her role as ‘The Scientist’ is fundamental to the whole story, as her character is a representation of the industry of Celebrity culture and Stardom. A preface of a striking, fashionable and sexy individual that has already embodied everything that is being transplanted into myself, which is also why the way she is dressed is more of a loose interpretation of a scientist rather than the more literal sense. The fact as well that she is ‘taken down’ and her experiment is ruined throughout the video tells that the true power lies within the star, not the people pulling the strings.
The song’s lyrics serve as a monologue to ‘The Scientist’ and also depict the thoughts that arise during the first encounter with a love interest. Can you delve deeper into this dual narrative?
A: For me, I felt like the dual narrative was crucial. I didn’t want the song to just have one meaning, all of my songs on ‘Under The Moon’ have multiple aspects to them. I did this so that the listeners can find their own stories within the stories being told. ‘Mania’ would be the one that I feel is most presented as a dual story though, it really lends itself to that sense of instability. When I was writing the lyrics, I had the vision of the story that you see in the video, with it being the more fictional and fantasy derived aspect. But I wanted it also to be able for people to sing along when they’re out partying at the club, especially because it’s a Dance-Pop song! So, why not have it displayed lyrically in a way about meeting someone in that very environment? Throughout the writing process that second vision definitely started playing out in my head as well which made it more fun to create. That way as well, it had its own individual meaning as one song, and then have an overall addition to the narrative that is laid out in my EP. That story serving as my initial call to this planet that we call home, finding myself in this new and overwhelming environment as I’m unsure of who I am or where I came from. That story tales of the creation and the birth of Benathon.
The song’s overall theme is centred around overthinking, feeling crazy, and losing oneself to thought. How does this reflect your personal experiences or observations?
A: I myself, have been a victim to my own overthinking MANY a time in my life, and it’s never fun. And I know that I’m not the only person on this planet that has had to go through that. Almost everyone has experienced a form of overthinking at least once in their life. I wanted to shed some light on the very real aspect of life, and one of the most volatile weapons on this planet, the brain. This isn’t a song that glorifies overthinking, but rather depicts it in a way that can address just how real it is, and what can come from it within the body and the psyche. Stemming panic and anxiety attacks where you can become short of breath, the fight or flight response, memory blanks, repetitive thoughts and notions, just to name a few. My aim for this song was for anyone that had experienced anything of the sort, to be able to feel seen, and to know that they aren’t alone, and to hopefully use the song as a means to persevere beyond those trying periods.
What’s next for you? Any releases or live performances?
A: I have a few ideas running through my head at the moment. I’m currently working on some new projects that hopefully I will get to share sooner rather than later, but the creative process will be the one to make that decision. I’m a perfectionist at heart so I want to make sure that any project that I create, I have done to the point where I feel it tells the story in the best way it possibly can. I’m also in the works to perform ‘Under The Moon’ more, and looking at different ways that it can be done so that the story can be told in new light. What I can say for sure is that this isn’t the last that you’re going to hear of me. There’s too much that I want to say to stop now.