PARTY LIKE 2009 BY MELOTIKA, 3min., Canada
Directed by Johny Mikhael, Melany Yelle-Nikischer
The official music video for Canadian Electropop artist Melotika's latest single "Party Like 2009." Filmed and directed by iRadios Productions, Melotika reinvents Retro with her throwback music video paying homage to the year 2009, reminiscing the golden age of dance pop through thrifty indie sleaze fashion at a house party with a retro and Victorian aesthetic. "Party Like 2009" is more than just a trip down memory lane; it's an anthem of empowerment and liberation.

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Get to the know the filmmaker Melany Yelle-Nikischer:

What motivated you to make this music video?
Truly, this has been something on my bucket list for a very long time that I finally got to check off. I've always wanted to do a music video with loads of people in a house party setting with my personal style, paying homage to my favorite year and era that I grew up in as a teenager, 2009. The motivation was simply re-living and re-inventing my adolescence in an empowering and fun video.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this music video?
The idea floated in my mind for about 6 months right after writing the song, 'Party Like 2009' back in November 2022. Overall, this music video took a solid month and a half of work and time from location scouting, costume designing and styling, preparing and shopping for all the props, creating my proposal for the videographer and recruiting volunteer models and actors with ads on social media. We filmed the video in one day for 6 hours. A lot of the moments and shots were spontaneous.

How would you describe your music video in two words!?
NEW-RETRO!

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this music video?
The biggest obstacle was finding the right videographer and director who understood my vision. Once that was found with Johny Mikhael, the production process was smooth, professional, and so much fun. I think the concept of re-inventing the mid-late aughts hasn't been done, or at least not very much, so this was a very experimental project and hopefully the start of a new trend.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was just so beyond happy that the audience completely grasped all the feelings I was going for and it reassured me that my intent matched the outcome.

You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Very easy and simple.

What is your favorite meal?
Pizza!

What is next for you? A new film?
Coming out in 2024 is my newest effort, Ultra Butterfly, an album that sounds like the pop era of 2009 in an alternate, more modern universe, while dipping into alternative styles of rap and post-rock music as well. The album's first two singles out now, "Pressure" featuring Krosst Out and "Party Like 2009" are available to stream on all music platforms.