We are chatting today with Anika! So excited to hear more about what you are up to! We know you have a new video coming out for your smash hit “Make Me Wanna” Tell us all about the video.
Thank you so much for having me! I am extremely excited about the release of this video! It was my first time working on a real set filled with crew, extras, and my amazingly talented director, Diane Foster! It was amazing to get to work with professionals as well as bring some of my own friends along for the ride! It was just overall one of the coolest experiences I have ever had!
Did you come up with the video treatment? Share with us more on the process of how that worked for the video.
Unlike my first video for Are You Down, I knew I wanted this video to have a story to accompany the lyrics and music of Make Me Wanna. The whole song is truly just about that built-up tension and intensity between two people who lock eyes with each other. I collaborated with Diane to create this feeling of almost a forbidden type of love. Very innocent, yet filled with passion at its core. I am so thankful I got to work with the incredible Daniel Zemeida who was cast to play my love interest in this video. He was so great to work with and he and Diane made the whole process so much fun!
What was the shoot day like for the video?
The shoot day, while extremely intense, was incredible. I really wanted to do it again ten times over. We were working from around 1:00 P.M. to past 1:00 A.M. It was so exhilarating and there was always something going on. It was also awesome to get my makeup done by someone else because I am always doing it myself, so it was a nice break from all of the shooting, but also such a cool way to learn new tips and tricks from a professional as well!
Do you feel like the video represents what the song is about?
I feel like the video completely represents my vision. Just being surrounded by a crowd of people and catching that person’s eye and making an instant connection. We really wanted to give a nod to the Romeo and Juliet feel, and I believe that we were able to capture that in the filming process.
We LOVE your fashion style. Tell us all about the looks you are serving up in the video! How in the world did you decide what to wear, etc.
Well, without giving too much away, I have two main outfits in the video. One is more chill and cute while the other is definitely a look. It was really difficult to figure out what to wear for the music video, as I was styling myself, but I think the outfits are perfect for the two roles I play. I also wanted to give a little nod to my Are You Down video with the outfits as well, so see if you can make the connection!
What’s up next for you?
I am extremely excited about what’s next and sharing more of myself and my music with the world! I am so close to finishing up my last song for my EP that I am planning to release this summer which is incredible! I genuinely can’t wait to share with everyone what I have been working so hard on for the past two years, and I hope you love it!
Tell us where we can find more about you and catch the premiere of the video.
Thank you so much for having me! For more updates on my music and life, you can follow me on Instagram @anika__nielsen, TikTok @anikanielsen11, and you can watch the premiere of my video on my YouTube channel.
