
Genre-bending artist Luna Morgenstern unveils her latest EP, heartbreak hotel, alongside a captivating video for the title track, directed by Anna van der Velde. The visuals meld surreal drone shots of Iceland’s striking landscapes with CGI elements, creating an immersive experience that straddles reality and dream-like sequences.
At the heart of heartbreak hotel lies a unique fusion of club beats and raw, autobiographical lyrics, chronicling the emotional journey of a relationship’s unravelling. Each of the six tracks acts as a doorway into the metaphorical ‘heartbreak hotel,’ reflecting stages from initial doubts to final goodbyes, all drenched in Luna’s signature blend of heartbreak-pop, echoing influences from the late ’90s rave scene and early ’00s club culture.
Discussing the inspiration behind the video, Luna shares, “I collaborated with Anna Van der Velde, a multidisciplinary artist, director and wonderful human being whom’s unique visual handwriting fascinated me from the first time I discovered her work. We immediately connected creatively and personally and from that mutual trust we were able to build a world that beautifully reflects ‘heartbreak hotel’. At first, I was really stuck on recreating the ‘heartbreak hotel’ I had imagined while writing the record. But I am glad that I let go of that literal translation and trusted Anna with her vision: To travel to Iceland and let the otherworldly landscapes represent the different stages of grief on the record. We flew all the way to Iceland, travelled the island by car and shot as we went. We were shooting in freezing cold and windy conditions – it felt like a transformative experience that we went through together. In a way, I was able to relive some of the pain in a physical way and could let go of it.”
The EP pulses with nostalgia, from the euphoric vibes of “miss u” to the murky depths of “spiral” and reggaeton-infused opener “hush hush.” With icy synths, jagged breakbeats, and ethereal vocals, heartbreak hotel explores the longing for lost connections amid emotional upheaval.
Crafted with Dutch producer Nick Ribbens in a tranquil Spanish beach town, the record was influenced by unexpected finds, including tracks by Jennifer Paige and Frou Frou. Luna shares, “I like playing with contrasting elements in my songwriting and production… I am a huge sucker for a melancholic dance moment too. I wanted to capture that feeling of crying while dancing in a crowd full of strangers in every tune”.
With heartbreak hotel, Luna invites listeners into her world, building on the momentum from her previous EP, Dance Dance (Don’t Go), which drew praise across Europe. This new project further solidifies her status as a rising alt-pop talent.
Luna kicks off a European headline tour this March, including a show at The Social in London on March 18. Tickets are available here.
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heartbreak hotel is out now: https://bfan.link/heartbreak-hotel
