The THANK YOU music video drops November 13th, and working with director Sasha Shu transformed how I think about visual storytelling. What started as conversations about emotional intensity became something much more cinematic.
Sasha’s concept centered on duality – the tension between light and shadow, protection and vulnerability. We developed a visual language using stark contrasts: black and white clothing, painted face stripes that suggest both war paint and tears, imagery that feels both ancient and timeless.
The wide-brimmed black hat became a central visual element. Not just a costume choice, but a way to create shadow and mystery while maintaining focus on expression. Every prop served the song’s emotional core rather than decorating around it.
Working with two performers allowed us to explore the song’s themes of connection and protection through visual metaphor. The painted stripes – black and white – created symmetry and opposition simultaneously. Each frame needed to feel deliberate, loaded with meaning.
The fire sequences demanded careful planning. Real flames create unpredictable light, which meant adjusting performance to work with constantly changing illumination. Those moments feel most alive in the final cut – dangerous and beautiful simultaneously.
Sasha’s directing style creates space for spontaneous discovery within structured concepts. We’d rehearse movements and blocking, then capture moments that happened between the planned shots. Some of the video’s most powerful images emerged from those unscripted seconds.
The black and white aesthetic wasn’t just stylistic choice – it reinforces the song’s exploration of absolutes. Love this complete, devotion this intense, exists in extremes rather than comfortable middle ground. Every visual element supports that emotional reality.
Costume design played crucial roles in building atmosphere. The contrast between light and dark clothing creates visual tension that mirrors the lyrics’ emotional complexity. Nothing accidental, everything purposeful.
The collaboration reminded me why certain creative partnerships feel essential. Sasha understood the song’s core immediately, then pushed the visual interpretation beyond what I’d imagined possible.
Mark your calendars for November 13th.
Sometimes the most powerful art emerges from perfect creative alignment between vision and execution.
— Indie pop artist, musician Anastasia Ledovskaya