Inspired #415 - MINOE
MINOE has just shared her seventies inspired music video for latest disco fueled track ‘Cut Me Loose’.
Directed by Andres Estrada and edited by Walid Jabri, the stunning disco-inspired visual sees MINOE switch between two versions of herself. Glamorous, done-up MINOE who dances with her friends and embodies confidence, and the other who is a tired, overwhelmed version of MINOE who appears to be holding back tears. The latter represents MINOE’s inner saboteur.
Throughout the hypnotic dance track, we hear MINOE speaking to herself - begging to be "cut loose" from her own unrealistic expectations. As a lover of escapism and using dance as a coping mechanism, Minoe's goal is to invite listeners into her party, where crying at the club is not only allowed-but encouraged and everybody is welcome on the dancefloor.
She took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind her music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
Bjork has to be up there because my government name (Isobel) comes from a Bjork song! I grew up listening to her, I love how she completely invests herself in her performances and everything she does, she's an absolute genius. I'm also heavily influenced by Lady Gaga, Tove Lo, Donna Summer, Lykke Li, SZA, all women who I've seen myself in through their art, which I think is such a masterful thing to be able to do.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
There are so many! The visuals on my latest single "Cherry" are heavily inspired by Leeloo from the Fifth Element, I think they really nailed the future of fashion in that movie. I'm also obsessed with every Baz Luhrmann movie, especially Moulin Rouge. I love movies that create a new world aesthetically, they're an escape from reality for me so I love to really be transported - that's also why I love making music videos so much!
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
Montreal has given me so much inspiration to work with, it's really such a special place. I stayed in Valencia, Spain for a while, that was also a total dream. That said, I think I'm most inspired by travelling rather than one specific city - something about being on the move makes me feel like I'm completely free to be myself.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
My fans. I can't even really believe I have fans, but when they tell me they relate to my videos and my music because of their own losses and struggles...there's nothing that makes me want to pick myself up and keep going more than that.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
"Cut me Loose" is about facing my insecurities head on and confronting my own inner-bully. I grew very hypercritical of myself throughout isolation, my health problems resulted in weight gain and I was being really hard on myself about it - which only made things worse! "Cut me loose" is a message to that inner-saboteur, begging her to free me of my own unrealistic expectations and return to doing what I love - dancing, connecting with the people I love, and making music.
How would you like to inspire people?
I hope that my music creates a safe place for people. I am a total bleeding heart, loud-mouthed, messy girl and I literally can't help but be vulnerable - I don't want to inspire people to be like me, I definitely don't have it all figured out, I just hope they feel like they're not alone when they hear my songs. Also I hope they DANCE.
