Just in time for Halloween, Montreal bilingual alt-popstar Maryze has shared a new queer, horror-themed music video for the track “Emo,” from her debut album, 8, released earlier this year via Hot Tramp Records. Maryze stars opposite model/artist Brit Carpenter in the video, which she also directed, showcasing a dysfunctional romance that eventually culminates with an unexpected, bloody climax.
Maryze says that she always looks to seek out queer representation in horror, so this video is her own “little contribution.” She also says queer narratives often lack the nuance that straight relationships receive in film, so she wanted to portray all sides of the story: from the beautiful, tender moments to the scary, unhealthy fights.
“The horror aspect is left pretty ambiguous and moves into a more experimental art direction,” she says. “We set out to use horror devices to illustrate the toxicity of relationships without having any explicit on-screen violence. I wanted the viewer to be left asking: ‘Who killed who?'”
As the video hits the masses, Maryze says it’s exciting and a bit nerve-wracking to share. It was her first experience writing a script and directing, but as she always wanted to create a narrative horror project, Maryze calls the video a personal milestone, adding, “I hope my family isn’t too shocked by the NSFW content.”
“Emo” pays homage to 2000’s pop-punk icons, taking vocal inspiration from Avril Lavigne and Paramore, emulating the bass tones of Fall Out Boy and Green Day’s tremolo guitar in “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”
“I pretty much consider myself to be forever emo! I definitely was growing up and don’t think I ever stopped,”Maryze says. “The song is also about someone I dated as a teen and how he never took my music taste seriously. But here I am still making cool emo art and music.”
The video’s general vibe feels akin to a horror film, shared appropriately just before the spookiest of all holidays, all the while with a queer relationship at its core.
“I do believe horror and queerness have always been intrinsically linked,” Maryze says. “The theme of the ‘other,’ I think, is relatable to LGBTQ+ folks, though for a long time, horror seemed to me much more queer-coded than overtly gay. I love the genre for its campiness and escapism, but also its bold confrontation of real social issues. Horror feels comforting to me, and I love my little spooky community.”
She created the video concept with horror screenwriter Joel H. Brewster and calls him “such a solid addition to the team.” The duo met on social media, shared their mutual love of horror, and Maryze eventually appeared on his podcast No Stranger to Horror.
“When I pitched him a music video collaboration, he jumped on board and brought amazing ideas to the table,” she says.
The video is a whirlwind of emotions, giving viewers an intimate look at a relationship turned sour over the three-minute duration. The stark shift was very intentional, with the actions on screen matching the progression of the song perfectly.
She also called directing a “fun challenge,” adding, “I love film, especially horror, so it was a dream come true to create a story in that realm and also offer some queer representation to the genre. I was lucky to have artist Janette King on set as videographer and Brit, my costar, to bounce ideas off of. Solomon Krause-Imlach edited the project and really elevated the final visuals.”
Maryze describes the video itself as “super DIY,” using fake blood from Spirit Halloween, a strobe light, and fog machine and still managing to create a seriously sexy and spooky cinematic experience. Her advice to creatives working on a budget? “Don’t ever let limited resources hold you back!”
While October is just about over, Maryze teases that a new horror project is on the way, “in various mediums, so keep an eye out in 2023 for some exciting news…”
Watch the music video for “Emo” here:
For more from Maryze, find her on Facebook, Instagram, and her official website.
Screenshot courtesy of Maryze and YouTube
