Krissy Booth has released her new video for the track titled ‘Hysteric’. Falling in love doesn’t always lead to that happily-ever-after feeling. Sometimes, it’s the calm right before a big storm. Or it might be the storm itself. Detroit songwriter Krissy Booth explores the ways that love can feel messy, chaotic, and intense on her newest single, “Hysteric.”
Booth pairs glistening vocal melodies with dark, angular synth pop. Her work deals with juxtaposition, both lyrically and sonically. “Hysteric” is a modern love song that takes the sweet, sappy serenades of the Great American songbook and turns them on their head. Drawing from artists like FKA Twigs, Lana Del Rey, and St. Vincent, Booth writes iconic, almost theatrical melodies while synthesizers build momentum and tension throughout the song. Sonically, the verses are lush and comforting before the choruses explode into a churning wall of sound.
Booth recalls, “People tend to write soft sweet love songs, but for me I wanted to write something that embodies how intense it can sometimes feel.” Drawing on the gendered history of the word “hysteria,” Booth turns it into an explanation of mutual destruction. Obsession, passion, and devotion create a sea of swirling emotions in this single.
Krissy Booth is on the cusp of greatness. The power and focus of her creative vision is on full display in the accompanying music video. Romantic scenes dissolve into chaotic explorations of the singer’s mind, tripping with video effects and bright colors. From the lyrics to the visual representation, Booth feels totally in control of her destiny. “Hysteric” is a love song for the internet era: a song that somehow encompasses every emotion from pain to joy and back again.
Q&A
What drew you to explore the theme of “hysteria” as it relates to love?
Whats crazier than crazy in love? I think Hysteric is- when this song came to me I was in the push and the pull of a toxic relationship with a lot of ups and downs. I wanted to write something beautiful, poetic, and witty while saying ‘I love you’ at the same time as acknowledging how wild things were.
Did you watch the most recent eclipse? What does the movement of heavenly bodies tell us about our human relationships?
I did watch the eclipse. The moon and sun and planets are so old they seem ageless as far as our concept of time goes. I just saw a headline on how the sun may have consciousness – our little 70-90 year life spans are the blink of an eye to something millions of years old. Trees live longer than we do. We’re so small and tiny, and short lived. Might as well have fun and enjoy living each day as much as we can.
You play a lot with juxtaposition in this song. How did you write and record music that felt like it mirrored the juxtaposition in the lyrics?
The music needed to be soft and lovely at times, while maintaining an abrasive energy. The ethereal synths take up a lot of spacial dimension, and when paired with hard hitting distorted bass and drums it gets the feeling I want across.
You mentioned that there are more songs on the way. How do they compare to “Hysteric?”
Hysteric is the first song in the new huge wild world of Krissy Booth. Each song feels bigger and more cinematic.
What’s one thing you hope listeners take away from the song?
I wanted to build a sonic experience that felt fresh and captivating. This is something in its own lane; new and fresh.
