Exclusive Interview with Multi-Hyphenate Artist, Emma Zander

“Not A Fairytale” Single Art

Emma Zander, pop enchantress and master storyteller, has revealed her music video for her latest track, “Not A Fairytale.” The cinematic short film, directed by Kimberly Aboltin, stars Emma and actor Connor G. Floyd and explores the beauty and tragedy of a past romance through a hazy lens.

The song, produced by Jon Lundin, delves into the exhilarating nature of toxic relationships, juxtaposing the highs and lows couples go through.

The poignant and fraught video weaves through 8mm footage fantasies of an idealized life, leaving viewers to reflect upon what is reality and what is imagination, producing a beautiful parallel to the real-life experiences of a toxic relationship.

Emma Zander has solidified herself not only as a musical talent but also as a visual storyteller and a powerful female voice in her generation.

A multi-talented artist, Emma is also a ghostwriter for directors and has gained recognition for her introspective songwriting. She discusses the inspiration and process of creating her new track and video, as well as some insights into her method and mindset around art creation.

Not A Fairytale BTS shot by Yoshi Uemura

I want to start off by saying I loved the track and the video and I think the visuals pair so well with the vibe of the song. The slow sad and sweet vocals create this bittersweet feeling that matches what is happening in the main characters' relationship. I think there was also a heavy focus on storytelling which I loved, and it reminded me of two artists I love, Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey. Are there any media or artists that were the inspiration or reference for the track or the video?

I'm so glad you love it! Taylor and Lana are two major references for me in everything I do -- conscious or not, they've just shaped me so much as an artist. This song was actually super inspired by Taylor's Folklore. I particularly loved how she told these intricate stories from the POVs of characters other than herself. I tried to infuse some of that into my writing here, writing not only from my own experience, but from an imagined persona of a woman in a very public relationship. 

I really loved the dreamy visual aesthetic of the music video. Can you tell us how this ambience was achieved? 

So much went into the ambience and vibe of this video. First off, we shot it on the same lens they used for La La Land. I wanted it to have that cinematic, romantic, almost retro feeling to it. And then, I collaborated with the amazing director Kimberly Aboltin to create the art direction and the color scheme of our wardrobe. We shot in an empty apartment in an old building, and brought everything from home. 

What was the most difficult part of creating this track or video? And how did you overcome it?

We shot this video with a tiny crew over the course of a 22 hour shoot day from start to wrap. Cleaning up and lugging my trunks and trunks of stuff to the car at 2 AM after 20 hours of shooting was wild. But no one gave up, everyone was such a trooper, and we got a LOT of footage for one day. 

To me, you are a jack of all trades, or maybe some would call you a Renaissance woman. Not only are you an accomplished musician and songwriter, you are a video producer, stylist, art director, actor and ghostwriter for directors- having written treatments and scripts for Megan Thee Stallion, Imagine Dragons, Cardi B, David Guetta. What creative role are you most passionate about and has it changed over time?

I've always felt like creativity was this fluid thing. Society likes to limit creatives to one medium, but I find that they all build upon and inform each other. I love script writing because I'm helping bring someone's vision to life. But songwriting will always be my first love. It's like therapy. It's where I let my emotions out and hopefully make them into something beautiful. 

Is there any area of creative work that you are interested in trying next?

I'm dying to get more into directing and creative directing. With so much experience making music videos and writing for directors, it seems like a natural next step. I also want to write a fictional novel. I think I can do it all.

I am interested in writing in general, but I get intimidated by the blank page and I’ve faced many bouts of writer's block. Can you describe your writing or creative process and how you overcome blocks?

I think, like anything, writing is a muscle. So the more you do it, the less of that initial scariness you'll feel. But I totally feel you. Blocks are real. Blank pages are so scary. I'd say don't be too precious or perfectionistic with what you write. Just start. Often the first thing that comes out of our mouth or into our mind is the most truthful thing. Trust it! 

I hear that you have an album that’s in the works- can you give us an idea of what it’s going to be like?

I've just wrapped up my EP with John Velasquez (Zella Day, Vacations). It's way more alternative than anything I've done. All of the instruments are real. It's retro, dreamy -- inspired by everything from Bill Withers to Marilyn Monroe to Wet Leg. I'm really excited to put it out.