Isanna Guides Us Through Her New Ethereal Music Video
Amuse, amuse
We caught up with the talented American-German producer, Isanna, ahead of her newest release 'Moshpit of Emotions'. After creating the entire music video from her living room under self-isolation and with limited resources, we discussed how she and her team went about producing the unique and dramatic visuals to her new track during these unprecedented conditions.
Introduce yourself!
Hey I’m Isanna, a German/American songwriter and producer currently based in London.
What was the inspiration behind the music video for Moshpit of Emotions?
We really wanted to capture the feelings of isolation, wonder, and awe that I felt while writing the track. The character I play in the video is floating through space, and through life in general, to mirror that. She’s lost in the middle of nowhere, but still refusing to lose her sense of wonder.
Did you have any assistance creating the film? If so, who?
My amazing brother Alex co-directed the video with our wildly talented VFX editor Harry Lindley. I did my own makeup and styling, and my mom did my hair haha. It was a family effort, to say the least.
Can you explain the process behind the production?
Alex and I filmed the video in front of a green screen in our living room during lockdown. It was the most chilled process ever. It was honestly just like hanging out at home, but every 5 minutes my mom was running around, touching up my flyaways and decreasing the green screen. She’s such a legend, shout out mom!! Then we handed the shots off to Harry to create a whole CGI world on earth, in space, and somewhere in between :’)
How long did the entire filming process take?
The filming took approx. one and a half days as we didn’t have much to work with, so we wanted to make sure all of my performance shots were as good as they could be. The editing and VFX process happened over the span of four weeks, with Alex and Harry collaborating remotely to make the whole thing as fantastical and wild as it could be.
Were there any major obstacles that you encountered?
Our living room is teeny tiny, and the green screen wasn’t massive, so we kept having to re-film scenes where my arms and legs would have disappeared off screen once we put in a background. Also, we were working with really limited lighting, which makes a green screen edit super difficult. We had to get creative with ways to bounce light off of my face, like using a small plastic card as a reflector.
How did it feel to create a music video under the conditions of quarantine?
It was difficult, but if there’s one thing my team loves, it’s a challenge.
How did being in lockdown affect the final result?
I think filming during self-isolation was beneficial for my performance. It really helped me get into character because I was running through the gamut of emotions in real life as well, as I’m sure many people are during this time.
What's next for you?
I’m writing/producing towards my debut EP at the moment, so I’m still in a place of exploring what I really want to say with my first bigger body of work. We’re releasing my next single at the start of summer as well, so I’m really psyched for that! Sadly the festivals that I was meant to play at this summer got cancelled, but on the bright side, it allows more time for writing and introspection.
Follow Isanna on Instagram for more.