Leaning into the Art of Self Expression

"Sinking" — The Official Music Video: https://youtu.be/gwQ_PI9Yq_k

I just released my second music video — a visual aid to my collaboration with Aye Bay. An emerging and amazing producer and fellow creator. It's been a long time comin and i thank him so much for his contributions and patience to and for this video. He completely put his trust in me to lead this whole project and never once questioned me on direction, creativity, nothing.

Aye Bay and I met at a Sound Advice Tour Conference led by Kato On The Track. I don't think I knew at all that we'd work together but I do recall liking Aye Bay's music and remembered that he drove all the way from New York to be in Detroit for this.

We stayed in touch online & somehow one thing led to another. He sent me a beat and i sent him back a demo. The bare bones were there but Aye Bay had since then put the song on the back burner. Artists get busy, and they go where the wind takes them. That's no lie. I continued working on the song with my songwriting and vocal coach. She really pushed me to dig deeper into the story telling. To say what i wanted to say but in a different way. If I recall correctly, I sent him updates but his ship had sailed. Then one day, some how, Aye Bay sent me a mix of the song. He'd chopped off my entire bridge & ending. I did not understand it at first but i caught on real quick that the EDM world was a different animal. "Two verses and just the chorus? But that's an incomplete song?" I thought to myself. I trusted him though and so i went with it. It sounded good to me.

During this time, I was going through it with not trusting my ear. I didn't know what to like or how to communicate it effectively. I could send references but its all so different that i didn't know what i was hearing anymore. I was so married to my demo that once i heard the first mix, i was confused and a little frustrated to be completely honest. But it was Aye Bay's mix that brought me to tears. I remember driving home and recieving the mix and immediately played it in my car. I believe i got thru 3 replays until i got home. Ran inside the house o get my husband to come out into the car. I played it for him with the car stereo and he was blown away. I had a deep level of hope that rose from this experience. Whatever got into Aye Bay to pick up this song again was a miracle because I thought it was done.

The next step was to pitch the song to labels, in hopes that it would garner positive feedback and gain listeners and it did! Ufality Records picked up our song, Sinking, for a distribution deal and we were beyond excited knowing this was just another stepping stone to moving ourselves forward in both of our music careers. "Sinking" was added to numerous playlists and capture a lot of ears. More than I had imagined. I felt that it was only right to produced a music video for it to help bring the feeling to life.

In todays world, you just have to have visuals. There's just way too much going on that music alone can sometimes get lost in the sea of songs. So I set foot to get a piece produced to be able to share it with all the listeners who appreciate this song. I worked with Isaiah Viernes of Serene Films — a super talented local Hawaiian boy. I knew I wanted to work with someone local and finding him happened from knocking on one door that led to another open door.

I loved Isaiah's serene approach & thought "Sinking" would be the perfect fit for his style. To give it that dreamy, distant longing it needed that could cross worlds and still feel as one. We started shooting our first location at Yokohama Beach on the west side of Oahu. It was a gorgeous day with the water so present with it's big waves and white washed peaks. It helped to tell this story of crashing emotions so vividly. We didn't even have to tell it to do it's job, it just did and we just waited for it. To capture its raw and rugged emotion.

The other shoot day was a month or so after at my home. We shot in my bedroom at night. Michael Garces is an amazing lighting guy. He created all the harsh and dramatic lighting you see throughout the videos taken indoors and at night. That wet window shot and the glittery water overlays that transitioned scene to scene. I was in awe. Hater's will say it's stock imagery haha (Kristle). But that's just how good it was.

Months went by then everything slowed down for the holidays. Then finally, the real new year transitioned and push came to shove. I needed this video yesteryear and i needed it done well. I was hopeful that we could get it done and I am so glad that we did. We ended up shooting and inserting another scene of underwater reflections to help tie the story together and it turned out beautifully.

I put my trust in Isaiah to help create a visual that was powerful and beautiful...to help tell the story of what it feels like to be stuck in our thoughts. I always find myself back to nature because its just where we need to be to stay connected and heal. This song is about healing but it's also about hurting. It's about hurting real bad. About being in a dark repetitive cycle that's very real & is transcending because you wish it weren't. The balance between both worlds or multiple worlds can be daunting and depressing and though it's not healthy to straddle those lines, sometimes it's necessary to see and feel it to know that it's not where you want or should be.

I'm fortunate to have pulled myself out of that darkness I experienced. To have had bigger things to live for to keep myself pushing and rising up. It wasn't easy and when i look back, it was many many years of suppression and self doubt that aided my numbness. I am lucky for whatever reason. I knew that it wasn't the way i was going down. Period.

I hope you can appreciate this video as much as I did making it.

Thank You Aye Bay, Isaiah, Michael, Hannah and Kayla for your meticulously skilled and careful, helping hands. It really was a small and mighty crew and I thank the good energy that surrounds what can feel like nothing left, for pushing each one of us to create what we choose and want to express.

<3 NOU

Watch the "Sinking" Official Music Video: https://youtu.be/gwQ_PI9Yq_k

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