by mariah estran
photo by elinor kry
Matching someone’s personality to their astrological sign can become a lighthearted game, but one that can lead you to over-analyzing the bigger picture. For singer/songwriter Brynn Cartelli, finding that connection led to her latest single, “Gemini.”
The airy, dream-pop song expresses finding reasons for someone acting in a certain way. “That’s what ‘Gemini’ is about,” the singer says. “Making excuses for somebody based on what their chart says.”
Her new single acts as the introduction to her upcoming project. A new era that will highlight who Cartelli is. No longer fearful of musical experimentation and embracing the uplifting power of sisterhood.
She took time to tell us about “Gemini,” directing the video, upcoming projects, and how she’s grown since the release of her debut EP Based on a True Story.
You’ve just released your latest single “Gemini.” I know it describes the stereotypes we tend to associate with certain astrological signs. But what inspired the track?
Brynn: “I think I’ve always been interested in astrology. I’ve seen people with Gemini placements that act a certain way.
I was getting sick of the situation I was in. Feeling like I kept going back and hurting myself. In a way, I found a common thread between behavior and rationalizing it in your brain. I came up with the line: ‘I’ve had bad luck with boys I’ve tried to love.’ It just kind of became ‘Gemini.’ It was like therapy to release it all and not worry about it anymore.”
Do you tend to follow astrology when it comes to relationships?
Brynn: “Here’s the thing, I don’t ever want to make decisions based on somebody’s chart or astrology. Every time somebody does something that I’m like, ‘oh, not great,’ it somehow connects to what I defined as their chart.
That’s what ‘Gemini’ is about. Making excuses for somebody based on what their chart says. Which, you know, is something I think a lot of people are doing. Especially now that astrology has become a more mainstream topic.”
This track has a light-pop sound to it. Who are some of your musical inspirations in this new era of your music?
Brynn: “I was really inspired by the sounds I heard in Fleetwood Mac, HAIM, and Florence + The Machine. Those kind of witchy feels in the pop space.
When we first started writing the song, I was in London, and I was working with Henrik Michaelson (who produced the track). This was the first day we met, and I showed him this idea I came up with about Gemini’s. He instantly pulled out this steel-string guitar, which I thought sounded so ‘Fleetwood Mac.’
It really ties into the intention behind the project I am working on because it felt like home to me. The Salem Witch Trials — I’m from Massachusetts — I’ve always had an obsession with witches and that energy that comes with them. So, I decided to tap into it sonically and eventually with the video.”
Let’s talk about the video. It has this fairytale essence to it. How does the video compliment the song?
Brynn: “I wanted to be like witches in the woods, running around as if they were hexing some spirit. I don’t love talking about boys in my songs. Like, if they did something bad, I don’t want them to know they have a song about it.
So, I wanted to make this video about wonderful women and the sisterhood of girls who understand being let down. I wanted it to capture the essence of the Gemini, with the twins, and the dancers are all real sisters. I wanted to represent this angel-like, flirty, fun creature.”
How do you feel you’ve grown since the release of Based on a True Story?
Brynn: “I think the first project I put out — Based on a True Story — it was kind of me sharing who I am as a singer/songwriter. Now, it’s about: who is Brynn as a person in this world. I’m from Massachusetts, and I want the record to sound like it was made on the East Coast. It is pop and inspired by my favorite east-coast-sounding artists. It feels like home.
It feels more like a coming-of-age story, where I am less scared to experiment and play with sound. Whereas the first one was just me and my guitar or piano.”
Lastly, what can we expect from you next?
Brynn: “More singles, more visuals. Directing the ‘Gemini’ video has been a dream of mine. So, there will be a lot more of that in the future. It’s been a blast creating the songs and bringing them to life in a new way.
A lot more music to come out. There’s more to know, letting people in more as each song comes out.”