Emerging from Athens’ burgeoning avant-pop scene, VASSIŁINA is renowned for crafting ambient soundscapes that seamlessly blend pop aesthetics with dark electronic influences. Continuously pushing boundaries, she redefines the avant-pop genre with each endeavour. Her live performances feature enigmatic polyphonic vocals and robust industrial beats, while her latest album, “Femmeland”, delivers an emotive and transformative experience to a dedicated fanbase.
In her newest release, “2kisses”, VASSIŁINA delves into the intricacies of coexistence, exploring the challenge of finding harmony amidst personal struggles. Directed by VASSIŁINA and expertly curated by herself and frequent collaborator Vinyl Face, the accompanying visuals draw inspiration from her Greek heritage, specifically the mythological tapestry of Circe, a divine goddess cast out from Greek mythology, which serves as a recurring motif throughout “Femmeland”.
Watch the video…
Hey! How have you been?
Hey there! I’ve been doing really well—I just got back from Berlin. I had a show there, which was super fun and now, I’m back to Athens.
You’ve recently released your latest single along with a new video for “2kisses.” Could you tell us about the creative process behind the track?
“2kisses” is actually the only track I’ve written in Greek. I rarely write in Greek, but I made a conscious decision to include one track in each album that is in my mother tongue as a special gift to my listeners and as an inside joke to myself. It’s a dark pop tune that I co-produced/ wrote with Bhukhurah. Chris (Bhukhurah) sent me a bass line at one point and asked me if I wanted to use it. I thought the bass line was super strong. So, I decided to experiment with a beat. I added some synths, and then the melody and lyrics came to me very naturally and quickly. It felt strange because I rarely write in Greek, and I was a bit unsure if the track was too much of a departure from my usual style. I actually abandoned the track for about a year until I revisited it while working on my album. I realized that with some adjustments to the vocal production, it could fit seamlessly into the album’s overall vibe, so I decided to give it another shot.
As for the visuals for my album, “Femmeland”, my co-art director and stylist, Vinyl Face, and I delved into Greek mythology for inspiration. I was particularly drawn to the story of Circe. The first thing that came to my mind when envisioning Circe was her multifaceted sides and talents. Circe was known as one of the best weavers of her time, and we wanted to present her “dark side”, as perceived by society, but revisit her story.
What messages, narratives, and themes are you aiming to convey with the track and visuals?
“2kisses” explores the struggles of coexistence and finding harmony amidst shared challenges. Inspired by Circe’s myth, the video reveals how society perceives her dark side while also showcasing her gentle nature. It sets the stage for her choice to become human, as seen in my first single, “Crooked”. We witness Circe protecting her human side and making peace with all aspects of herself. The “dark void” becomes a sacred space where her power and sides merge, giving birth to her human self. Our aim was to gently prepare listeners for the journey ahead in my upcoming album, “Femmeland”.
You self-directed the video. What was it like directing yourself on your own project?
Directing the video was both stressful and overwhelming, but I now see it as a deeply creative process that taught me a lot. As an independent artist, you often have to wear many hats due to budget constraints and to maintain creative control and freedom. When I write my music, I always have a visual narrative in mind. It’s important for me to have control over how I represent myself and my art. While I lack technical experience as a director, I couldn’t have done it without the support of my dear friends and creative team, especially Vinyl Face, Romnick Palo, Anastasia Daferera. Contino, Bhukhurah and Tasos Kakousis, they all played such an important role in creating and finalising it. Each member played a vital role in bringing the vision to life, making it a collaborative effort.
