With a sumptuous voice, Hazel Iris immediately envelops you in her track Diana. The California-born, Berlin-based singer released the song as part of her May Queen album, which has been playing on repeat in our playlists since she released in June. Now, the singer teams up with filmmaker Mona Najma in the music video that she’s publishing today.
Hazel takes listeners on a mesmerising journey through twilight landscapes, both sonically and visually. Iris' velvety vocals and a hauntingly lonely bass combine to create a sense of anticipation, as if sparks are about to fly. As the singer herself explains, “Diana and its music video are about the joy of desire. Overwhelmed with anticipation and lust, she ignores the 'impropriety' of talking about her desire.”
The accompanying music video, masterfully crafted by filmmaker Mona Najma, adds an extra layer of intrigue. As she puts it, the work begins “with a soft red light glowing like an ember at the back of an ancient cavern. It cuts to a deserted Brontë-like landscape filled with longing and anticipation, where neither Heathcliff nor Mr. Rochester is in sight. I gave a humble nod to the legendary Maya Deren by taking pleasure in imagery, in the play with shadows, light, textures and shapes. As Diana is about abandoning common sense and embracing joy and desire, the filmmaking took a route into something that isn’t logical but is more of a sensory, atmospheric experience.”
Hazel Iris' Diana echoes the influences of iconic artists like Kate Bush, Florence Welch, and Tori Amos, but it also carves its path. May Queen, the album from which Diana is taken, is a synth-laden dream pop extravaganza that pays homage to various facets of womanhood. Inspired by the goddess Persephone, the album dives into the taboo topics surrounding female sexuality, power, and societal expectations.
In a world where women are often judged and objectified, Hazel Iris dares to break the mold. Her music explores desire, loss, self-pleasure, and the interconnectedness of humanity and nature. As she aptly puts it, “How we treat each other is clearly mirrored in the way we treat wildlife and the planet.”
The accompanying music video, masterfully crafted by filmmaker Mona Najma, adds an extra layer of intrigue. As she puts it, the work begins “with a soft red light glowing like an ember at the back of an ancient cavern. It cuts to a deserted Brontë-like landscape filled with longing and anticipation, where neither Heathcliff nor Mr. Rochester is in sight. I gave a humble nod to the legendary Maya Deren by taking pleasure in imagery, in the play with shadows, light, textures and shapes. As Diana is about abandoning common sense and embracing joy and desire, the filmmaking took a route into something that isn’t logical but is more of a sensory, atmospheric experience.”
Hazel Iris' Diana echoes the influences of iconic artists like Kate Bush, Florence Welch, and Tori Amos, but it also carves its path. May Queen, the album from which Diana is taken, is a synth-laden dream pop extravaganza that pays homage to various facets of womanhood. Inspired by the goddess Persephone, the album dives into the taboo topics surrounding female sexuality, power, and societal expectations.
In a world where women are often judged and objectified, Hazel Iris dares to break the mold. Her music explores desire, loss, self-pleasure, and the interconnectedness of humanity and nature. As she aptly puts it, “How we treat each other is clearly mirrored in the way we treat wildlife and the planet.”