When [Tessa Violet](https://www.instagram.com/tessaviolet/) first wrote “Bored”, the songstress had no idea that her catchy tune would soon become prophetic. Almost scarily emblematic of the daily existential dread of an isolation-inducing global pandemic, “Bored” spins a tale that we all surely knew well before a time of social distancing: of being wholly uninterested in any project we use to halfheartedly fill our days, of anxiety and isolation. Tessa says it best: “I’m so bored of waking up.”
A song about a banal existence could have very easily flopped, but Tessa — through lyricism, poppy melody, and campy visuals — is able to turn a well-worn narrative on its head to create an engaging audio-visual experience. Many may argue that modern problems (such as boredom in the digital age) require modern solutions, but Tessa looks to the past, leaning into a nineties aesthetic to convey that boredom really knows no bounds.
Check out Flaunt’s exclusive Q&A with Tessa Violet and the premiere of her music video “Bored” (directed by Jade Ehlers) from her debut album, _Bad Ideas._
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_Though this song hits extremely close to home for everyone right now, it obviously wasn't made during the pandemic. Can you describe your personal experience that led to the creation of "Bored"?_
At the time I wrote it, I was working at home. Every day felt like this carousel of same-ness. I would have trouble falling asleep at night because I dreaded waking up in the morning to another day of isolation. I wanted a music video that reflected the anxiety of the night and that feeling of being unable to escape.
_What would your advice be to all the people feeling bored or isolated right now?_
Get present in the now. When you feel anxiety building inside you, center yourself on this moment. Look around your room or at your hands or out the window (or even better, go for a socially distanced walk). Most of anxiety and boredom lives in non-acceptance of this moment. What might you find in the beauty of now? And on a non-existential note, I'd say just be easy on yourself. This is a hard thing the entire world is going through. Find things to look forward to like Zoom calls or my live shows Thursday and Sunday ;). Pick up a hobby, start watching a show you always wanted to, be creative if you want. Just don't be hard on yourself.
_Your music video juxtaposes banality with a campy, fun music video. What made you decide to take it in that direction?_
I am a big fan of horror haha. I love the emotional ride of anxiety and fear and adrenaline that exists in the safe playspace of horror films. Like ultimately you are okay, you know you are, but you get the thrill of it. I think the realism of the fear at the end of the "Bored" music video is made stronger and more fear-like by the choice to be more camp in the beginning. There's a queasiness that comes to me around the idea of things not being what you expect. A lot of my nightmares follow the arc of things appearing to be one thing (safe/normal/whatever), but turning on a dime to be something chilling. Also I love camp haha. Also I just want to add a huge thank you to my director and collaborator Jade Ehlers who brought this vision to life! Also a huge thank you to YouTube for letting us film this music video in their space. Truly, I have the coolest team.
_The video integrates choreography into the storytelling in a really digestible and enjoyable way. How was it to incorporate movement and dance into a narrative sequence, and what made you decide to do that?_
There's something really powerful about choreography and the vulnerability of it. Generally, I think we as a culture are uncomfortable with people expressing themselves in a way that is deemed to be "too much". And what is more "too much" than adding a dance? Also, I really like the emotional experience of being unable to get out of bed being reflected in the physical manifestation of a many-armed bed that holds you down and pulls you in.
_Being confined to one place takes an extra toll on artists who were supposed to be touring. How are you making the best of this unfortunate situation?_
Acceptance. Sadness and anxiety leave me when I accept them instead of trying to fight them. Being alone is hard, and accepting that loneliness instead of denying it, makes it easier. And on the other side of that, there's so much to find and explore here on my own. I'm really loving the bi-weekly livestreams I'm doing. It's not something I would have started if not for this experience. Plus the entire experience feels like an invitation to find joy and comfort in something that's uncomfortable.
When I wrote this song, I was in a similar life situation, but I didn't have the emotional tools I have now. The whole song is about feeling trapped, and then in the last verse it doubles down with shame: "you look too hard then you see it's a joke, you think you're trapped but it's nothing but smoke, you want it better but you only choke, is this all there is? is this all there is?" Like "yeah you feel trapped, but that's in your head, IDIOT. If you were 'better' you could get out." It's feeling bad and then torturing yourself for feeling bad - which is so unhelpful haha. But, there's also a seed of truth in it. You may not be able to change your circumstance, but you still find peace and joy in the now. For me, I find that peace and joy through acceptance of my pain and sadness. Also by calling friends haha. Stop shaming yourself for feeling bad.
Photo by Sara Bluhm
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