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Interview: Chrissy Costanza’s New Music Deserves More Than Just ‘7 Minutes’ Of Your Time

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We at The Honey POP are Chrissy Costanza stans. We’ve been listening to Against The Current for years. But now, Chrissy has released her own solo music! So we’re so stoked to bring you an exclusive interview with Chrissy Costanza herself! We talk all about her new music, what it’s like releasing solo music, and more. Let’s jump right in! 

Her Solo Career

You’ve been writing songs with Against The Current for over 10 years. What did you find the most difficult from the process of writing for yourself as a solo artist? On the same wavelength, did you find things that made it a bit easier? 
The most difficult thing was learning to trust my instincts to determine whether something was good or not. In Against The Current, I could rely on my bandmates as barometers of whether we got it right or not. However, one thing that was easier this time was the lack of pressure to live up to a prior release. In ATC, we are acutely aware that any new music will always be held up and compared to the music the fans are already so attached to. In doing this project, there’s nothing to compare to, so I was able to create freely. 

If you could choose any color to describe your new solo music, which would it be?
Crimson. I’ve always been a “red” type of girl overall, but specifically for this project, it feels like a dark, blood-red crimson.

Her New Single, ‘7 Minutes In Hell’

Congratulations on your first solo release! ‘7 Minutes In Hell’ is such a powerful song; what made you want to release it as your first solo single?’
‘7 minutes in Hell’ was the very first song I wrote when I went into the studio with the idea to begin creating solo music. Even as I wrote more songs, this one felt like it best embodied the world I wanted to create: a little bit dark, a lot of fantasy, and questioning what’s good or bad.

‘7 Minutes In Hell’ already establishes a very unique and specific aesthetic. What inspired you to take this route? What other aesthetics do you think can be related to your work?
‘7 Minutes In Hell’ for sure establishes a unique aesthetic, and my inspiration for it came from my love for fantasy. It’s been a dream of mine for a very long time to create a body of work inspired by a fantasy world. I drew a lot from fantasy books I’ve read, playing DnD, video games, etc., so I really wanted to bring those loves into my music as a visual component.

What was it like working with such a prolific director Ryan Valdez, and how did you come up with the concept for the ‘7 Minutes In Hell’ music video?
It was amazing. We’ve worked together before a couple of times, which is why we knew we had to get Ryan on board for this project! He directed the ‘Weapon’ video for ATC, which is one of my all-time favorites. Jade and I had already started conceptualizing the video before, and then when we brought Ryan on. He just completely took it to a whole new level. He’s also incredible at VFX, which made so much of the video possible. 

Speaking of the aesthetic, there are a lot of ways you could’ve portrayed the lyrical theme of ‘7 Minutes In Hell’ in the music video. What made you choose the fallen angel route? How did the MV concept/story come to be? 
Aside from just the obvious correlation to Heaven & Hell as the inspiration behind the song, the fallen angel holds a lot of significance to the project overall. I’ve always put a lot of pressure on myself to fulfill the expectations of others, and it often felt like I was constantly trying to balance on the pedestal I was placed on top of. The idea of doing this project, was claiming something that was my own and didn’t serve anyone but myself, which felt like a fall from grace in a way.
But with the bloodied and waxen wings, as you see in the video, the story is meant to show you that I was never meant to be this angel after all. Heavy is the head that bears the halo, apparently! The concept came from just talking through these ideas with my manager and creative partner, Jade, and our director Ryan, who helped bring these ideas to life. I knew I wanted to tell the story through the lens of dark romance, so I could have someone who could actually represent that devilish character as opposed to it just being a voice in my head. 

Image Source: Izzy Lux

‘7 Minutes In Hell’ is a play on the childhood kissing in one’s closet game. What game most brings back nostalgic memories?
I actually never actually played 7 Minutes in Heaven…I was not that cool back then. But, if we’re talking party games and not video games, I will probably have to go with my family’s classic holiday game—Name That Tune! My mom and uncle completely dominate, though, and can name almost any song from the 70s or 80s within a second. 

Being A Female Vocalist In The Pop Punk/Adjacent Scene

Female voices and representation in the alternative scene are super important. How have you navigated being a female vocalist in a male-dominated space? Have you ever felt like an outcast or on the outside of the scene, and do you have any advice for aspiring female artists on dealing with those feelings? 
I have to give it to my parents for raising me to truly believe I could do anything if I worked hard for it. I refuse to acknowledge the barriers in front of me and have just bulldozed my own path. It’s important for me to recognize the collective effort of all the unbelievable female artists who have come before me and who are killing it now that we keep battering down those walls to open the way for future generations of female artists. For any aspiring female artists, I would remind you that whatever barrier is in your way is inconsequential when faced up against your passion and determination. YOU are more powerful as long as you believe it!

Her Upcoming Spin The Bottle Tour

We know how much you love touring, and we can’t wait to see what you have in store for us! What are you looking forward to the most for these performances?
I am really excited about this tour because it’s so unique. I’ve never done anything like it before. We’re working really hard to make this show a memorable experience for our fans. To give you a sneak peek into the tour, we’re planning to blend our sets, have spinning wheels where fans could potentially pick what songs we play, or win items at the merch, and maybe even have some themed nights! I can’t wait to hit the road with the VOILÁ guys, who have quickly become some of my closest friends. I love and admire them so much, and I’m honored to be touring with them. And I cant wait for you guys to experience this. 

Image source: Courtesy of The Syn

What will the 7 minutes before the opening night of your first solo tour look like?
Probably just a TON of panic. I really love playing live shows, but I’m so hard on myself. I know I’ll just be marinating in the stress of doing a great job and singing these songs right for the first time! Also…making my gummy bear tea!

In addition to your upcoming tour with VOILÁ, Against the Current is playing When We Were Young! Are there any artists you’re dying to see?
There are so many artists I’m dying to see. I was late to the scene growing up, so I have never seen many of my favorite artists before. I’m most excited about The Starting Line, Jimmy Eat World, Say Anything, and A Day to Remember.

What’s Next

Are there any sneak peeks or insight you can give us into what’s coming next in terms of your solo project? 
I have a big announcement coming with the next song drop! 

Last but not least, is there anything you want to share about your solo project (or anything else) that we haven’t touched on yet?
Really, I’m just relieved and feel crazy grateful for how unbelievable the fans have been to me. It was a mildly terrifying idea to be doing something out of ATC that wasn’t just a feature or collaboration, and I was worried about how people would react, but the love I’ve felt has made me cry multiple times already. I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I will never take it for granted, so if you’re reading this or listened to the song or came to a show – THANK YOU!

We’d like to thank Chrissy Costanza for taking the time to chat with us! What do you think of her new single, ‘7 Minutes In Hell,’ and do you have any plans to go to her solo tour? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook, Instagram, or by tweeting us @thehoneypop

Want more exclusive interviews? We got you, honey! 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHRISSY COSTANZA:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITCH | TWITTER | WEBSITE

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Aera Ahn

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