Lithuanian singer and songwriter Monikaze, named one of the most promising artists in Europe at the Music Moves Europe ceremony last year in Paris, plans to live up to this accolade in 2023 with the release of her album “Weakness”. It will come out in early autumn, and now this unique, talented artist has presented her first video for the first single of the album - “Tell Me”.
The video for “Tell Me” was directed by Benas Šarka, who is known for his visuals for alternative music bands as well as pop music artists. It is Monikaze's first video, and it was filmed in her hometown Vilnius at the legendary venue, the Palace of Culture, Entertainment, and Sports. The idea of the video, as well as Monika's slightly futuristic image, was conceived together with Ben.
“It's a song about an infatuation that suddenly awakens you from a state of incapacitation, but the other person is so tightly grasped, like the only chance left, so he cannot do anything else but run away in fear”, says Monikaze, a versatile composer and electronic music producer who has a remarkable ability to blend various genres into a mesmerizing sound that captivates audiences.
Avant-pop musician Monikaze, rapidly gaining popularity both in Lithuania and abroad, will be performing at various music events across Europe this summer. After starting the year with a performance at the Eurosonic, this summer she will continue her tour and will be performing at Primavera Sound Barcelona, as well as at the Iceland Airwaves, and different smaller-scale European — mostly techno — festivals.
After her summer tour, Monikaze will release an album called "Weakness". "This is the best thing I've done so far," she says.
The album consists of nine tracks in total, each of which talks about a particular weakness. The order of the songs is extremely important as they narrate one single story.
"I start with the theme of social exclusion, then move on to despair, from this to anxiety state, and when I reach the stage of the protagonist-narrator's incapacity, the theme of love is introduced. But this is also a weakness", smiles Monikaze.
It is the single ‘Tell Me’, which is being released today with a music video, that weighs the album to the other side: "It changes the mood of the album from negative to positive. With this song, it moves from a state of weakness to a state of strength, passion, and desire to act now", says the songwriter and singer. As of now, the remaining song themes remain undisclosed, adding to the anticipation surrounding the album's full release.
Monikaze's exceptional talent has earned her numerous accolades and recognition, including a National Lithuanian music award M.A.M.A.'21 for "The Best Electronic Music Artist" as well as a "Music Moves Europe 2023" nomination.
In the past year, she had already performed at various international festivals, leaving audiences in awe with her avant-pop sound, characterized by raw and manipulated vocals. Her signature style blends electronic and acoustic textures that are inspired by a range of genres, including IDM, electronica, jazz, and instrumental works by post-minimalist composers.
Monikaze's unique approach to music production has caught the attention of music critics and fans alike and is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
