Ukrainian-Aotearoa artist VÏKAE’s new video for alt-pop hit ‘Love Games’ has the artist’s alter ego having a nighttime tea party, playing chess and dancing in the kitchen.
Filmed, directed, and edited by the artist and her partner, it showcases what is possible with an iPhone, a camera, a tripod, and a bunch of determination.
This movie is a first step look into the world of heartbreak with the introduction of VÏKAE’s alter ego: a femme fatale boss babe who's ready to play blind man's bluff with a worthy opponent.
‘Love Games’ was the first song to be released from a five-track mixtape. It is a sonically empowering track, with its strong delivery and 90s-Esque strings. It is also a dark track, riddled with melancholy and sincerity - “imagine if Taylor Swift went emo,” says VÏKAE.
A talented performer, songwriter and lyricist, inspiration for ‘Love Games’ came from the artists' observations and lived experiences of toxic relationships. She says, “this is just another window into the honesty I bring to my artistry. Unbeknownst to the listener, there is no obvious narrative. Whether it’s a story about a relationship or self-love or self-loathing, the beauty is in the eye of the interpreter. Or is love really blind?!”
Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Auckland’s Parachute Studios, the production is slick, adding to the success and listenability of this track. ‘Love Games’ is to be listened to loudly and on repeat!
The follow-up to VÏKAE’s debut ep FINELINES, her five-track mixtape LOVE GAMES - set to be released later this year - explores love, betrayal, and heartache. Blending pop sensibilities and emo rebellion, the artist sings for the voiceless and the underdogs. She’s a proud 'Swiftie' that grew up listening to the emo bands of the 2000s, so it is no surprise that her music is pseudo-romantic, unapologetic, and sometimes just a little bit brash. After graduating with an honours music degree (University of Otago), she relocated to Auckland to further pursue her career as a solo artist. Making her debut in 2020 during the start of the pandemic VÏKAE amassed nearly half a million streams across all platforms, has had honourable mentions on the NZ Official Charts and has played at some of the country's biggest music festivals like Bay Dreams Nelson and Mardi Gras, as well as managing to clock up some serious tour time throughout NZ (even despite covid restrictions). VÏKAE is an artist to watch.