+ remixes by Blakk Habit and Jon Born
Fast rising London based alt-pop musician / animator Psyrena (Madeleine Wise) provides us with dreamy, magical escapism with the arrival of her brand new single ‘Rainbows & Unicorns’ lifted from the forthcoming EP of the same name and will pre-empt its release with a stunningly crafted, psychedelic animated video featuring a multi-instrumentalist octopus plus keyboard-playing bear and singing Flowerettes.
Psyrena says: “Imagination is my way to cope with the current quarantine, helping me to connect with myself and other artists. In times like these when we can’t go out due to social distancing we might get caught up in the feeling of losing our freedom, which leads to fear and loneliness. It’s imagination and creativity that will take you everywhere … I call it ‘Quarantivity’. Even when the whole world is under house arrest we’ve still got our minds, that’s our last freedom – freedom of speech and thought. Those human rights mean a huge deal to me and I reflect this within in my art. I escaped the drab outside world and found an entire universe full of colour right here in my head & heart. I live in my own supernatural world full of singing mushrooms and an octopus playing all the instruments in my band, in the middle of a magical forest, where nature and animals become your friend and you becoming one with them.”
She goes on to add: “As we can’t shoot any videos outside due to these restrictions, making this animated video was the perfect visual medium for me. I worked as an producer on Cartoon Networks & Adult Swim channels in my past so I really resonate with the medium of cartoons not only to escape reality but also to expand a parallel universe through a different medium of fantasy. I remember parts of my childhood through colourful animations (MTV, Nickelodeon), and they always bring back warm memories. The end result is a highly infectious electro-pop anthem with a clear message to embrace diversity. “We’re all different like the colours of a rainbow, and I want to bring people together. We’re politically very divided at the moment and I’m longing for mutual respect and unity … and unicorns!”
Psyrena is no stranger to international cultures. Her own tri-lingual upbringing has led to recording her festive EP “Psyrena’s Christmas” (2018) featuring seven traditional songs sung in seven different languages. 2019 saw the release of her “Fallen Angel” EP, showing a darker side & inspiring critical acclaim by journalists and fellow artists.
Being a multi-instrumentalist herself, her writing and production work has already been featured on [adult swim] and Cartoon Network. Together with her creative partner Yak Bondy and Ivor Novello composer Hélène Muddiman she co-wrote and performed music for the Original Motion Picture ‘Bliss!’ (2016), conducted by Eimear Noone, the first ever female orchestra leader performing at the Oscars in 2020.
“Rainbows & Unicorns” is available on all digital platforms from 12th June 2020 and features remixes by Leeds UK bass producer Blakk Habit and Swedish electro-house producer Jon Born.