Sarah P. explores themes of female empowerment and overcoming mental health issues in her music video for “Maenads,” a powerful confrontation of depression and anxiety.
— —
Indie artist Sarah P. recently released the music video for her single “Maenads,” the third and final video for her new EP of the same name. The previous two videos (“Mneme” and “Lotus Eaters”) have already been viewed more than 300,000 on YouTube.
Released just in time for International Women’s Day on March 8th, the song and video explore themes of female empowerment. “Maenads” refers to the ancient female followers of the Greek God Dionysus. They were known for possessing superhuman strength and standing together for their beliefs. This theme is central to all of Sarah P.’s music, especially “Maenads.”
Say you know the place I used to go
Dance and drink until the dawn would break
They’re laughing at me
Dancing with me
They’re talking behind each other’s back
They’re craving a kiss
While I’m standing still
Numb of emotions and of fucks
Before her current alias, Sarah P. was the frontwoman of chill-wave pop duo Keep Shelly in Athens. Since leaving the band and launching her solo project, she’s released an album, as well as two EPs. Released December 14, 2018 via EraseRestart, Maenads offers a sound rarely heard in modern music. Sarah P. isn’t afraid to utilize instruments in unique ways or experiment with uncommon sounds; because of this, she often brings something quite different to the table that most artist simply can’t. “Maenads” contains an unmistakable ’80s influence, complete with ambient synth sounds and gated snares. Still, Sarah P. stays true to the sound of modern indie-pop music; “Maenads” stays relevant while still calling back to an earlier time.
The music video was filmed in Berlin, since according to Sarah P., it has a “moody and arrogant light”, and is “boxy and well structured in its chaos.” To her, the city’s energy and the overall aesthetic captured on-screen perfectly fit the message of “Maenads.”
To give, to feel
You must fill up your glass
To be out there and dance
Until you pass
Say you know the place I used to go
I’m sure we met moons back on the dance floor
A bird-like figure is seen throughout the video; powerfully symbolic, this is used to represent the artist’s mental illness. Having struggled with depression and anxiety for much of her life, she says the video conveys her “coming to terms with it, but also not letting it overtake [her] life – as it used to in the past.”
Sarah P. explores this past, but ultimately looks to the present:
“Maenads is a song about all those nights that are empty of feelings. I used to have plenty of those in my younger years. The visuals for the video are a fast-forward to my life in Berlin – rather secluded, away from distractions. “Reformed”, but far from perfect.”
Stream Sarah P.’s “Meanads” video below, and dive deeper into the artist’s new music through our Maenads EP feature!
They’re laughing at us
Dancing with us
Seemingly nice but full of lies
They’re laughing at us
Dancing with us
Seemingly nice but full of lies
They’re laughing at us
Dancing with us
Seemingly nice but full of lies
They’re craving a kiss
While we’re standing still
Numb of emotions and of fucks to give
— —
:: stream/purchase Maenads here ::
— — — —
Connect to Sarah P. on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Discover new music on Atwood Magazine
? © Colette Pomerleau
