Q&A: Aminta Skye Reimagines Heartbreak Through Myth in “Forget it All”
EMERGING POP-ROCK SONGSTRESS – Aminta Skye returns with her electrifying breakthrough single, “Forget it All,” a visceral and emotionally charged anthem that explores the raw complexities of heartbreak and self-sabotage. Skye has crafted a modern-day myth, turning the tale of Perseus and Medusa on its head and using it to tell a haunting story of destruction and escape.
In “Forget it All,” Skye reimagines the ancient Greek hero Perseus not as a slayer, but as a sacrificial lover. Rather than defeating Medusa, Perseus offers himself up to her, driven to madness by the agonizing question of whether apathy is the solution to the pain of love. In Skye's lyrics, the torment of love and heartbreak is raw: “I run from everyone I love, if loving’s what that is / And it’s true, I would prefer to forget it all than to forgive.”
Skye’s storytelling is complemented by an equally dynamic sonic landscape. Her siren-like vocals slice through hypnotic electric guitar riffs, grounded by a relentless acoustic guitar and pulsating bassline, while the pounding drums heighten the intensity. These elements evoke the feeling of building emotional walls – of a lover becoming a fighter, resolute in their effort to protect themselves from future pain.
Drawing listeners into a narrative that blends modern heartbreak with ancient myth, Skye’s lyrical mastery transports them back to a time when they might have experienced their own first heartbreak. There’s a sense of catharsis in the way the song unfolds, inviting listeners to lose themselves in its emotional depth. It’s as if Skye has bottled the nostalgia of 2000s bedroom rock ballads and fused it with the timeless poignancy of Greek mythology.
With “Forget it All,” Skye not only showcases her cunning lyricism but also her ability to craft songs that resonate universally while offering something fresh and bold. Her evocative arrangement and storytelling signal the arrival of an artist unafraid to explore the darker sides of love and loss. For those seeking emotional release or a soundtrack to their own heartbreak, “Forget it All” serves as a poignant reminder that sometimes, forgetting feels easier than forgiving.
LUNA: Thank you for talking to Luna. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. For any readers who aren’t familiar with you yet, what inspires your artistic style and sound?
AMINTA: My inspiration as an artist is to make the kind of music younger me loved. Expressive, dynamic and honest. I want my listeners to be transported to the floor of their older sibling’s room in 2007, hearing some whiny emo band for the first time. To the passenger seat of their best friend’s car screaming “Complicated” at the top of their lungs without a care in the world. I want them to get that sparkly feeling in their belly. Growing up, I was most inspired by songs that felt as if the artist had read my diary. I am fascinated by the way songwriting not only connects the writer to the listener, but the listener to a deeper part of themselves. There is nothing more satisfying than hearing a song and thinking, ‘that’s exactly how I feel, but I never had the words for it,’ and knowing you are not alone.
LUNA: What kind of atmosphere or emotional space do you aim to create for your listeners?
AMINTA: Whether it's a playful anthem or a stripped down acoustic ballad, I hope my music always captures the tension and release of self discovery. The juxtaposition of being an emotionally vulnerable young adult paired with the inexplicable confidence of youth. Introspection and defiance. I conduct a sonic atmosphere echoing early 2000s pop-punk and alt-rock.
LUNA: Are there particular moods or themes you find yourself gravitating towards when writing and performing? How do you channel these into your music?
AMINTA: As a songwriter, I approach the craft as a ruthless self investigation. I believe in brutal and brave honesty with oneself, even if it doesn’t paint you in the best light. I have found that listeners connect to this honesty because it invites them to admit to the same confessions. I love to write about identity and self revelation, growing up and the ugly truths of heartbreak. I find these themes channel themselves into music, guiding me in the creative process from a feeling of confusion (and curiosity) to clarity.
LUNA: What are some artists that have inspired your sound?
AMINTA: Some of my biggest inspirations are Paramore, Jeff Buckley, Avril Lavigne, early Demi Lovato and of course Hannah Montana. If I feel like I’m embodying Hannah on stage and in the studio, I know I am staying true to my vision.
LUNA: You just released your newest single “Forget It All” and huge congratulations! What is the inspiration behind the single and how your personal experiences helped shape its creation?
AMINTA: “Forget it All” is about the lengths we will go to to avoid feeling the pain of rejection. It’s about self sabotage and turning off your emotions and intuition to hide behind walls, trying to protect yourself but ultimately stopping yourself from experiencing the fullness of life. This personal examination and critique is backdropped against the metaphor of Perseus and Medusa. Except in this twist of fate, Perseus – instead of slaying her – comes to Medusa begging for her mercy. Better to become a statue and feel nothing at all, even to lose the good memories, than to endure the pain of a broken heart.
LUNA: Can you walk us through the creative process for “Forget It All?” How did it evolve from the initial idea to its final stage?
AMINTA: When I write songs, I often start with the instrumental changes and motifs that set a mood for the feeling I want to create. Then I think about melody and lyrics, usually at the same time. When I sat down to write “Forget it All,” I knew I wanted to create an angsty soft rock tune. In its conception, it was primarily about running from love and vulnerability to avoid risk. However, the tone shifted when I finished writing the first verse and penned down, “...it’s true; I would prefer to forget it all than to forgive.” This lyric excited and compelled me.
I decided to expand upon the idea. Why is this narrator running from love? What does the moment look like when a lover becomes a fighter, when an innocent loses their trust? While the first verse thinks back on regrets in a relationship, the second verse an examination of the narrator’s current defeated state, I think the bridge illustrates this moment best. The instant where the faith is broken, and the first brick is laid in one's walls to protect themselves: “Walk into the room slowly. Floorboards aching below feet. Speak your mind and destroy me…the only one let close enough to tear me up.” Once this thought was captured, the goal of my instrumental and production arrangement became to portray the restless ambiguity of that emotional experience. When you can feel yourself growing up and becoming hardened. I love the way my band and collaborator Charlie Hallock were able to bring that idea to life, and I’m so proud of what we created.
LUNA: What do you love most about “Forget It All?” Is there a certain lyric, element or message that you gravitate towards the most?
AMINTA: I like the scattered references and greater metaphor of Greek mythology as a former covert nerd. I love that anyone who wants to find the deeper meaning and layers can dive into that to find more to the story. I also like that the song depicts this critical moment and the way this narrator handled it, but it doesn’t offer any solution or moral high ground. I want the listener to think about how they might relate to the song and question themselves and their own coping mechanisms. I hope my songs always make a listener question themselves, like a therapy session! In writing this song, I realized that we are often self aware of this destructive behavior, but it takes so much time and bravery to decide that the fullness of a relationship and life is worth the risk of vulnerability and even heartbreak. The narrator doesn’t reach this stage in the song, but I think just presenting the concept and story probes the listener to consider the ways they hide to protect themselves, and what they could be missing out on because of a jaded point of view.
LUNA: This is your first release of the year. What can listeners expect from you in this new era of music?
AMINTA: I am so excited for this new era! “Forget it All” is my third single and marks the close of chapter one on my artist project. The next chapter will have a lot more fun and lightheartedness and a lot more humor. I’ve been in the studio so much this season and I’m really excited to share the next few singles in the coming months. I plan on releasing music more often and faster this year now that I’m more focused on studio time than primarily live shows, like the past two years. As I share more music and expand upon my sonic landscape, I’m excited to showcase more of my influences and different sides to my writing. I also have some collaborations in the works, so keep an ear out for that!
LUNA: What is your wildest dream as an artist? If you can have one thing happen (a milestone or dream collaboration you hope to achieve in your career), what would that look like for you?
AMINTA: I feel like it goes without saying that my dream would be to collaborate with Hayley Williams in some way. Be it opening for Paramore, writing a song together someday, or working together in a mentorship and artist development sense, that would be my biggest dream. There are so many newer artists I look forward to and hope to collaborate with, but that has to be my number one. Not to get too emo, but Paramore’s music literally saved my life in a really dark time, and I will always be grateful for that.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like for you that you would love to share with Luna?
AMINTA: I feel nothing but excitement and joy! I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. It is such a privilege to do what you’re passionate about and to love the art you are making! I definitely do not take that for granted and I can’t wait to prove myself even more this year. I hope the Luna community keeps an ear out for my upcoming releases, and please stream “Forget it All” everywhere! Also, if anyone is looking for a fun way to start their Halloween night, we will be playing for Breaking Sound at Employee’s Only on October 31. Please come and get spooky with us! All information will be posted on my socials.
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