#IMExclusive: Cristina Hart Premieres The Visuals “No Regrets”
EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE
Rising UK pop singer Cristina Hart debuts the visuals to her song “No Regrets”
She caught up with IndustryMe for a chat about her music & more.
How long have you been pursuing music and where did the journey begin for you?
I feel like I’ve only properly been pursuing music since I moved to London slightly over two years ago. That’s when I sort of made it ‘official’ to my family, to my friends and especially to myself, that this is what I wanted to do as a career. I used to think that I wasn’t good enough to make it as a singer but somehow in high school I had a real turning point and from then on I felt like I could achieve anything I set my mind to. So I self-proclaimed myself a singer, and I now own it.
How would you describe your sound to someone who had never heard your music before?
As empowering pop anthems that will make you dance, stand up for yourself and not take any shit from anyone – with sounds reminiscent of Ariana Grande, Years & Years and Lauv.
If you could only listen to one artist forever who would it be and why?
This is the hardest question ever, but if I had to choose I would go for Christina Aguilera just because I’ve been in love with her voice all my life and some of her songs, like The Voice Within, really helped me through some tough times.
How do you feel about the representation and portrayal of female musicians? Is there anything that you’d like to change?
I think what bothers me most about the portrayal of female musicians is how hyper sexualisation has been completely normalised in popular culture. Don’t get me wrong, I love women who embrace their sexuality and femininity, but the fact that female pop artists don’t only have to be insanely talented but also look sexually appealing to the male gaze is frustrating. But I think artists like Julia Michaels and Sigrid are really challenging the status quo in that sense, and I love that.
Who are your top 3 musical inspirations?
It’s so hard to narrow it down! But at the moment Alice Chater is a huge inspiration in terms of vocals, visuals and dancing skills – literally everything she does is on point. I’m also a big fan of Orla Gartland, I love how incredibly genuine she is and she writes the best indie pop bops. I’m also a huge fan of Nina Nesbitt’s new album – Loyal to Me and Love Letter are the break-up anthems I didn’t even know I needed.
What inspired you to move to London?
I grew up and lived my whole life, up until the age of 18, in Geneva, Switzerland. It’s one of the most gorgeous cities but I reached a point where I didn’t feel like I could grow as a musician or artist if I stayed there. The general mindset didn’t seem to support that sort of career path and there isn’t much of a contemporary music scene. So I decided to take a chance and move to London. I’m glad I did!
How have the different places you’ve lived in influenced your music?
When I was living in Switzerland, I was often frustrated that I couldn’t devote much time to music and because of this a lot of the songs I wrote were super sad. By moving to London and finally owning up to who I was, I think I finally let go of the fear in me and started writing happier, more empowering songs. I’m a super positive person, and I usually see the glass half full so my upcoming music definitely reflects that and bears my main message, which is to stand up for yourself and what you believe in.
As a woman, is there anything about the music industry that frustrates you?
I want to see more women playing gigs. Since I’ve moved to London, I’ve probably been to a hundred gigs and it pains me to see so little representation of women on stage. How is it 2019 and still a novelty to see a female drummer?
Do you follow a formula when you write?
I tend to gravitate towards the idea of a concept, or a strong title to kickstart the song, and then go from there. I love writing my songs from a very genuine place and experiences in life but also try to make them relatable. I feel that most things I’ve gone through, people have gone through as well and being open and vulnerable about my experiences is important to me.
What issues do you think female musicians are facing today?
Sometimes it seems as if women aren’t taken as seriously or knowledgeable as they should be. But I do think that the general mindset is changing and that women are starting to be more respected within the industry.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I’d love to have released my first album in 5 years’ time, have toured with my band and sold-out a few UK tours, while collaborating with musicians I look up to like Orla Gartland, Lauren Aquilina and yes, super long shot, Taylor Swift. My dream venue to play at is the O2 arena in London. Whether supporting or headlining, I’ll take it! Of course, the main goal remains to have people actually connect with the music I’m making.
What is the one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your journey?
Just do it. It might sound overly simplistic but sometimes I think this industry has a way of complicating things which makes it hard for emerging artists to decide to take the jump and release stuff. Just do it! If it goes well, yay! If it doesn’t, it’s not the end of the world and you’ll learn from the experience. Overthinking and self-doubt can be such a kick in the knees on your creative journey, don’t let them get the best of you!
What’s left to come from you this year?
I have big plans. I want to release more badass singles, more videos and hopefully a UK & European tour. If you want to stay in the loop, make sure you follow me and come say hi! All my socials are @iamcristinahart! hehe
What is No Regrets about? And the video?
‘No Regrets’ came about because I wanted to write a sassy, empowering break-up anthem. I’ve seen so many of my friends, and myself included, staying in a relationship in which they weren’t valued or appreciated. This song is about putting an end to this and not looking back. In terms of visuals, I wanted to evoke the feeling of elevation after the break-up, from having someone weighing you down to being able to be yourself fully. The video shows the journey of the relationship from a closed suffocating space to a completely free environment.
Link to ‘No Regrets’ on Spotify:
https://spoti.fi/2BLPS7W
All other platforms: