We are honoured to be able to bring you an exclusive look at the new video for the effervescent track ‘Little Princess’ by Canadian chanteuse Christina Martin.
‘Little Princess’ is a whirlwind of a track – swirling strings and stabbing rhythms underpin a melody that is transcendent and vibrant with a touch of melancholia and an inherent pop sensibility. Think of Sharon Van Etten meeting Fleetwood Mac with a touch of Mylène Farmer, all with a driving rock edge and a powerful and resonant theme.
Indeed, there is a deep poignancy in the origins of the track. Martin says:
Growing up I admired my older brother, who was a gifted artist, but also a rebel. He died in 2013 of an opioid overdose at the age of 41.This song touches on our relationship, and a memory of writing my first prose and wanting to impress him with it. We were two embryonic artists, intrinsically bound by blood and similarities, and yet with mental illness in the mix, we kept each other at arm’s length.
Directed by Brendan Henry, the video is quite literally cinematic: a lush partial science fiction epic that is vibrant and breathtaking in scope, delivering something that captures a sense of awe and wonder, powerful and euphoric. The scenes switch from fantasy to reality as Martin is struck by creative forces as she struggles to develop a story, interspersed with scenes from the tale she has created. It’s a powerful paean to the forces of imagination, creating a heroic character that is resilient and defiant in the face of countless odds. Henry says:
The real life portion of the film was shot in Christina’s own home, using a custom lens arrangement that allows the audience to feel the confines of the emotional struggle. The fantasy side of this video is entirely virtual, created using performance capture technology to allow Christina to play the role of Little Princess.
It is a perfect visualisation of the epic soundtrack – statuesque and bold:
‘Little Princess’ is out on Friday, 14 April 2023 and will be available here and through all the usual download and streaming services.
Martin is undertaking a UK and EU tour later this year:
Maverick Festival June 30-July 2, 2023
EU Tour Fall 2023
UK Tour March 2024
Feature Photograph: Cherakee Andresen
