Swingerella – Andrea Smith – with music artist Zara Sykes during a music video shoot (Photograph: Andrea Smith)
I’m filming in Birmingham today. in bright sunshine and the Custard Factory looks beautiful. Even the dragon is smiling. And I’m not talking about Swingerella.
We are shooting a music video for Zara Sykes who has to be one of the hottest female acts in Birmingham right now. Edgy, a real powerhouse kick ass woman who – to me – is also a poet.
Her music packs a punch, And that could be an unfortunate pun because the video is for her new single What gives you the right?
The song deals with violence against women. It’s an amazing track which she first performed at the Goddess Launch back in February at the Jekyll and Hyde. (Gin Parlour naturally – although Swingerella was banned from attending. Even then, I knew she was going to find a way to f**k things up for Goddess.)
We shot the video at the Custard Factory against a backdrop of decay painted over with crazy. So I felt at home. It’s where I developed Dark Fairytale before it toured the UK last year. Before it got me into trouble in India.
And it’s still creative home for me – even though Alfie Birds has gone. RIP. I had to do two things:
1) Strip
2) Run around being chased in a wedding dress. As I told them “It’s not acting”.
Andrea Smith played a character in despair for Zara Sykes music video (Photograph: Andrea Smith)
The director told me the look he wanted was ‘despair’. After finding out I’ve lost my house through repossession this week, that was easy. As I was leaving, Zara asked me how we could give my character a little bit of hope. I said, “I don’t know.” I think I am still writing my own happy ending.
‘What gives you the right?’ Zara Sykes Music will be released in July 2016.
Swingerella’s Dark Fairytale returns to BirminghamFest, from India, on July 16 at Blue Orange Theatre.
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You can find me online at www.swingerella.co.uk, and on Twitter and YouTube.
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Swingerella
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Swingerella is a comedienne, compere and self-proclaimed “Goddess of Fabulousness” who is currently campaigning against domestic violence as part of the Goddess Foundation. You can follow her on Twitter @Swingerella.
