The West Coast-based Singer-Songwriter and yoga-loving dreamer Lyra Star is back and better than ever with another ode to contortionism through her latest music video for "Fade."
As she fled her hometown of Nashville to finally settle in the warmth of the Bay Area, Lyra Star used her performing arts past to lead the way of her music career. Although 2020 was quite the breakout year for Lyra Star, she's continuing her success with more earthy and organic tones to pull listeners into her many intriguing ways.
Recently releasing a music video for her melodic single, "Fade," viewers are able to catch Lyra Star in yet another mesmerizing contortion performance overtop of her breathtaking sonic arrangements. While blissfully dancing among the earthy greens and blue lakes with wildlife abound, we're truly captivated by the natural beauty and grace of this video.
Hitting play on Lyra Star's music video for "Fade," the video opens with shots of Lyra Star emerging from tall grass, elegantly moving her body with the serene and tranquil wind that strikes the greenery above. Just when we're hoping to see Lyra Star perform her brilliant contortion, she grants our wishes and literally bends over backward on the sand that lays just in front of a duck-filled pond.
With various outfit changes and scenery switches, Lyra Star leaves us absolutely breathless with each skilled and placid movement she graces. This music video puts Lyra Star on a pedestal as the divine feminine, basking in the glory of mother nature and the radiant sun as she displays her brilliant contortion amid the beauty of nature's scenery.
We're always mesmerized by the intriguing ways of Lyra Star, and her organic and earthy music video for "Fade" is no exception. Watch Lyra Star's music video, "Fade," on YouTube, and find the single on all digital streaming platforms.
Hello Lyra, it's great to have you back to chat about your recent music video for "Fade." What inspired you to take this earthy and natural route for the video's scenery?
The song itself has quite a bit of nature imagery in the lyrics, and I wanted to film it by a lake because of the very specific image of standing at the water's edge. I wrote the song when I was in a pretty rough place both physically and emotionally. I spent about three years of my life training and competing in yoga championships, and the second year I participated, I worked with a very famous and well-known coach. She trains all of the international champions, and I was grateful to be working with her. However, I wasn't listening to my body, and I ended up injuring myself pretty badly a week before the competition. I pulled a muscle under my ribcage, and it was excruciatingly painful. I had worked so hard, and then I was broken. But it was also a big wakeup call for me and really had me go inwards and assess what was really happening here... this is not yoga. I was grateful that the injury wasn't so severe that I wouldn't heal. Movement is such a big part of my life. The following year, I went to India to participate in my first teacher training, and I came back with a completely renewed sense of what the practice is about. I always reconnect to myself in nature, and the video is meant to sort of being a dreamlike journey through my two sides and my inner self: the ethereal, wispy singer/songwriter that loves to dance and flow through life and the focused contortionist that works hard each and every day to be able to create intense shapes in the physical body.
Once again, you have us in awe of your brilliant contortionism within "Fade." How does your contortion coincide with the bliss and beauty of nature (captured in your music video)?
I mean, contortion can coincide with any environment depending on how it's done and the costume you wear. This video is really very me, and I think nature is reflective of the way that I usually move and perform... slow and graceful. Nature doesn't rush, and I don't like to rush either. It's also important not to rush or push your body too hard when doing deep training like this... I learned that when I got that injury and wrote this song. The director/videographer, Jayden Becker, did a great job of capturing the slow, beautiful movements and really having my movements ebb and flow both with the music and the landscape.
Did you work with any directors or videographers when creating your ethereal music video for "Fade?"
I worked with Jayden Becker... it was just me and them. Jayden was easy to work with, and we honestly had no real agenda in mind. I scouted out Franklin Canyon Regional Park and sent them some images of various locations throughout the park. We shot the video in only a few hours... the shortest music video shoot I've ever done! However, because we were mostly just trying to create a mood/vibe rather than a specific storyline, I think it worked really well.
Seeing as your brand surrounds in-depth music videos, are you currently working on any other videos for a future release?
Yes... I'm starting the year off with this very ethereal and natural video that used minimal production, but my next couple of videos are going to have more of an edge and bump it up a notch with the visuals. I am in the process of figuring out a shoot date for my next one (a video for my last single, "Light"), but this one is different because I'm going to work with a CGI artist to create some digital worlds to really take the video to that next level. I'm teaming up with Tonya Kay again ("Under the Water" director), and I've got a fantastic stylist on board for wardrobe. Looking forward to releasing some really stunning visual art to accompany my music this year.
What message do you hope for your listeners to take away from you and your music?
In general, I just want people to be taken on a journey when they hear my songs... feeling like they are transported into the world of each sonic landscape and perhaps even connecting with the emotions that are being conveyed through the imagery. I'm trying to create beauty through my art because I think we can always use more of that in this world. Everyone will relate to my music in a different way, and I think that's a wonderful thing. I also feel that creating music serves as a window into my heart and soul for those that know me mostly as a movement artist... there is a human inside of that bendy body, and I feel a wide range of emotions just like everyone else.