The high-octane rock 'n' roll explosion of “Everything I Hate About You”, the latest single from NOANNE, tells the darkly humorous and gripping tale of a woman who has taken drastic measures against a deceitful lover.
The lyrics were inspired by the moments of tension in a relationship when one thinks, “I could just kill them!” but never goes beyond the thought. “Everything I Hate About You” takes the inner turmoil of a relationship and gives it a bit of exaggeration.
“I wanted to capture the feeling of wanting to break free from someone’s hold on you, yet still feeling tied to them in an almost frustratingly magnetic way,” NOANNE said. “The love-hate dynamic weaves through the lyrics, capturing both anger and lingering affection.”
She admits that she has always been fascinated by the extreme emotions felt during a relationship; how love can turn into hate in a split second. By dialing those emotions up to 10 and sprinkling in some dark humor, she felt it was the perfect mix to capture that dynamic.
“Life and relationships are often absurd, and I wanted to create a song that wasn’t afraid to lean into that,” she said. “Humor can be a great way to cope with intense feelings, and by embracing it, the song becomes something more than just a tale of frustration - it’s a bit of a release.”
Working alongside musician and producer Gregory Darling was one of the most rewarding parts of the creation process. She initially brought the lyrics to Darling with an idea of how she wanted to transform it sonically, but it was their collaboration that brought it to its final version.
“We started with a rough, raw version reminiscent of The Doors and then evolved it into something bolder, with an explosive rock ‘n’ roll energy that reflected the intensity of the lyrics,” she said.
She wanted the music video to be equally intense by continuing the concept of mixing dark humor with raw emotions.
“I wanted the video to be dark, a bit absurd and even comedic,” she said.
Directed by Steen Agro, the video takes inspiration from classic dark comedies and psychological thrillers such as Pulp Fiction and Fargo. Set in a seedy motel, a woman is pushed to her limit and contemplates revenge in the most surreal, exaggerated way possible. It ends on a cliffhanger, with questions that will be answered in a short film set to be released later this year.
The intensity of the video made it challenging, as they wanted to push boundaries any way they could. Unfortunately, censorship issues caused them to cut certain scenes, but NOANNE said it also felt like a badge of honor. Despite the challenges, the final cut perfectly captured the surreal, over-the-top vision she had.
Creating a sound that matched the emotion of the lyrics was a challenge. Once NOANNE found that balance, she found that sense of release that she hopes her listeners find in the song. Relationships, like “Everything I Hate About You”, are complex. The song is a reminder of humanity, intense emotions and finding a way to process them.
