Zanillya - Sacrifices [Video]
Photography by Philine van den Hul
Amsterdam musician Zanillya - daughter to disco music legend Bobby Farrell of Boney M - emerges as an artist in her own right in her self-directed music video for ‘Sacrifices’, selected from her upcoming debut EP ‘Choose Life’.
Singer, rapper and producer Zanillya decided to take the DIY route when formulating her first music video for ‘Sacrifices’. The concept for the single and its visuals was borne from a place of pain and frustration, but the self-assured single’s overarching message is one of empowerment. After too long spent on using up her energy to please others, Zanillya is finally making the slightly painful yet overwhelmingly positive transition towards putting herself first. Her family ties mean that Zanillya of course has big shoes to fill, but while music is part of her DNA, her fusion of afrobeat and dancehall tinged R&B and hip-hop is a sound she has cultivated off her own back.
Speaking on her new release, Zanillya explains, “I’m an independent artist so I had to get over my fears, take a risk and invest in myself. I sat with different directors but I didn't really feel that someone else could portray my vision. So last minute I made the difficult decision to direct it myself. It was the most amazing and hard thing I have ever done, but because of it I feel so much more empowered. Even though the video didn’t come out completely how I envisioned, I learned sooo much. I think that is the beauty of believing and investing in yourself. You will fall and make mistakes but they will be yours. You can choose to grow and learn from them, or to give up and never reach your own potential.”
Watch Zanillya in her video for ‘Sacrifices’, here:
CREDITS
Concept & Director - Zanillya
Producer - Manon Zakai, Zanillya
Producer Assistant - Humphrey Dennis
Executive Producer - Zanillya & Humphrey Dennis
Choreography - Shay Latukolan & Shivawn Joubert
Movement Coach - Ivano Nortan
DOP - Steijn Leijzer
1st AD - Joost Biesheuvel
2nd AD - Humphrey Themen
Stylist - Madlyn Saswin & Zanillya
Styling Assistant 1 - Sheritza Arnhem
Styling Assistant 2 - Evita van Oosterom
Balaclava and pearl pants made by - Yasmina Saban
Hair and Make up - Christine Marie Elise Kat
Hair and Make up Assistant 1 - Kayleigh Krabbenborg
Hair and Make up Assistant 2 - Marjolein van Dijk
Colorist - Erik van den Heuvel
Edit - Sjoerd Dekker, Zanillya
Lead Dancers - Jody Geijsendorpher, Janelle Ignatius, Cedella Adriana + Darleen Lopes
Extra Dancers - Juliette Koole and Caissa Aartsen
Photographer 1 - Philine van den Hul
Photographer 2 - Nkeiru Ofor
Focus Puller - Boyd Bakema
Gaffer - Wiegert de Vries
Steadicam - Mark Modder
Set dresser - Mey Rahimi
Location 1 - Pastorie
Location 2 - Staal Fabriek
Special thanks to Allard Faas and Gert-Jan Grünbauer