Interviewing Blackbird: her new single Burn It Down, Zempekipop and Her Life Between Cyprus and LA

After more than ten years in Los Angeles, Cypriot artist Blackbird is back on her home island with a bold new sound.She calls her genre Zempekipop, a reinvention of Greek bouzouki music that blends heritage with daring modernity.

In this interview, Blackbird talks about returning to her roots, shining a light on Mediterranean talent, her new single Burn It Down that was also submitted to Eurovision and the cinematic “crime-world universe” she is building around the song. Get ready to meet the artist, her artistic vision and what she's preparing for her recent for her recent release.

Your new song Burn It Down just came out. How would you explain it to someone hearing it for the first time?

Imagine driving down a sunset highway, wind through your hair. It is about living in the moment and surrendering to the feeling of love at first sight. Think of distant horizons, moonlit skies, spontaneous getaways and the desire to escape reality, even if only for a fleeting moment.

You’re introducing a new approach to Greek bouzouki through what you call “Zempekipop.” If you had to describe this sound in three words, what would they be?

Tradition, reimagining and surrender!

After over a decade in Los Angeles, what made this the right moment to return to Cyprus?

It was kind of time to return to my roots, take a mental and physical break from the constant hustle between working a 9 to 5 job and ying to find time to to work on my craft and art. Cyprus is also a great place to recharge and find yourself as the island has so much to offer. I do miss LA, I'm not gonna lie, and I am already planning on returning for some shows and festivals so stay tuned!

What does representing the Mediterranean today mean to you as an artist?

It’s time for the Mediterranean talent to start shining That's what I think! Our culture, our way of live is recognized all over the world, but our music isn’t being promoted correctly or getting heard as much overseas. So I want to shine light on us Mediterraneans and women as we have distinct sounds, instruments that bring a whole new innovative sound to the table. 

Was the Eurovision submission part of the strategy from the beginning, or did it come later in the process?

The original idea was just to recreate and reimage old timeless masterpieces from my Cypriot heritage. Once the first demo was done, both myself and the producer promadethis said: "why not submit it to Eurovision?". We had a feeling that it might not go through, but the fact that our name was submitted into the pot… someone must have heard it and one day will say: "damn, those guys are bold!". That's the goal. I know that I got my name circulating in someone’s mouth, and that’s my strategy of planting those seeds. One day either in the near future or the far one, my name will resurface... so I'm not worried!

With the song, you’re also building an entire “crime-world universe” around it. How did this concept come to life?

Listening to the song, there is something dangerous, attractive and this feeling of breaking rules, so the best story that describes all those emotions is Bonnie and Clyde. And with my film background and my love of creating short films, this was the perfect moment to create a whole world around the song. So just wait because what I have in store for you... we are getting ready to film in June... so stay tuned, it's gonna be a huge surprise! Or read my newspaper articles for hints, details and some spoilers!

Click here to watch the interview via video.

Click here to follow Blackbird on Instagram.

You can listen to the song hereunder and on all digital platforms: