«I’m Freaking Crazy». Belarusian Singer Shot a Wild Music Video in a Post-Apocalyptic Location. «It's About the Power of a Woman Who Wants to Punish a Man for Betrayal»

«English is more about the story, Belarusian is about the feelings from that story. My entire new album is very contrasted: at the beginning, the songs reflect the moment of losing my world, pain, my weakness, and even the moment when one no longer wants to be in this world. And the second part reflects how power is born through anger towards the offender — when you refuse to be a victim and are not ashamed of your anger,» she says.

Nastassia Rydleuskaya always surprises the audience with her images, masks, and costumes. And in her new work, Nastassia, together with director Valeriya Charnasalieu, went even further and filmed, perhaps, the wildest music video of this year.

This is her third single from the new album «Alchemia», which will be released in a month. The album, says the singer, was not supposed to be released at all and appeared, unfortunately or fortunately, thanks to a personal experience of betrayal.

The singer's unique feature is the combination of English and Belarusian languages. As Nasta herself says, she finds it very easy and natural to write in English, while Belarusian opens doors to greater imagery.

Nastassia Rydleuskaya was born in Minsk, but spent part of her early childhood with her family in the USA, after which the family returned to Belarus. She is a musician and artist, whose exhibitions have been held in Poland, Germany, France, Switzerland, and other countries.

Rydleuskaya began recording her own music in 2023. She released the albums When I Can’t Speak (2023) and Mugwort (2023). Her work is distinguished by a unique combination of Belarusian pagan roots, innovative electronics, and layered melodies.

Павялічыць

She gained particularly widespread fame with Dance On My Own — an energetic song about independence, rejecting imposed roles, and the right to remain oneself. By summer 2025, it had over 650 thousand listens and was Rydleuskaya's most popular track.

— Can you already say when the album «Alchemia» will be released? Why such a name? Will it be a combination of genres or an even stronger connection between you as an artist and a musician? If «Alchemy» were not a sound, but your painting, what colors would dominate it?

— In September, hopefully, September 18th.

The album's title refers to the transformational process I experienced last year, which literally forced me to write this album — it was not planned.

Each song was written at different stages of personal transformation, which metaphorically found their embodiment in the stages of the alchemical Magnum Opus. All songs correspond to these alchemical stages: Nigredo, Albedo, Citrinitas, Rubedo.

The album reflects my personal experience of betrayal and how I dealt with it, embracing my shadow and finally allowing myself to be myself. The album allows pain and aggression to exist, does not hide them out of shame, allows itself to be vibrant, strong, and one who punishes, not cries.

The album addresses strong female archetypes (key image — Lilith) unaccepted by the patriarchal world, and it is precisely this that becomes the guiding star for self-acceptance. The album is about accepting one's strength, confidence, and allowing oneself to be and experience the world without half-measures.

It's about the power of a woman who experienced a man's betrayal and not only did not break, but also has every right to punish him on behalf of all exploited women.

The album is about how a victim refuses to be in a weak position, embraces her strength, and, like a phoenix, rises above all her pains into the final gold. This album was inspired by the sound of Nine Inch Nails, Led Zeppelin, and hyperpop.

This is an album of complete freedom and the stage I was living in.

What I heard flowed into music. At the beginning of this album, the color silver dominates, and at the end — gold. These colors reflect the Great Work — the same transformation from lead into gold.

Lead that filled the lungs and made it impossible to breathe… Each song not only reflects a stage of the alchemical process but also has its own symbolism and its own imagery.

All my music is written because I have a need for it. I never restrain myself in anything — I simply accept the transformation and the path I'm on, and with which the music emerges.

— Until now, your tracks seemed softer and more melancholic: «Pustacha» (Void) resembles an incantation, «Did you tell her» — some dark indie-pop. But the new track is already something towards alternative electro. Why did it turn out this way? Is it an experiment? Are you trying to express another part of yourself? Will there be more tracks of this type?

— The song «I’m Freaking Crazy» turned out this way because, at the time of writing, this was how I perceived myself and the world. I was writing the arrangement, trying to convey my feelings. I don't know if there will be more such songs: I am open to everything that comes to me and wants to express itself through me. Probably, in this album, it is the wildest, and it is unique — it precisely opens the Rubedo stage.

— How did the idea for such a music video come about? It reminded me of «Mad Max» in Eastern European settings. What were the references? Was the explosion at the end not real?

— Regarding the music video, you should ask the director, Lera Charnasalieu, how and why it appeared. From my side, I will say: I never interfere with the creation of the music video or the director's vision. Creators come to me and offer to film what they would like. If it resonates with me, I give the green light, and collaboration begins. The whole story with music videos is about trust and the unification of creative universes.

— So far, we've heard Belarusian and English in the singles of the new album. Will you continue to combine these languages? What do you gain from each of them?

— Yes, in this album and going forward, English and Belarusian languages will be combined. For me, this is currently the most comfortable option: it's easy and natural for me to write in English (it was always the primary language for writing poems), while Belarusian opened doors to greater imagery — that very register which is inaccessible to English.

English is more about the story, Belarusian is about the feelings from that story. The album is very contrasted: at the beginning, the songs reflect the moment of losing my world, pain, my weakness, and even the moment when one no longer wants to be in this world.

And the second part reflects how power is born through anger towards the offender — when you refuse to be a victim and are not ashamed of your anger.

• 10
• 0
• 4
• 2
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0