Q&A: Sara King on "Heartbreak Getaway," 80s Nostalgia, and Creative Breakthroughs
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
SARA KING RETURNS WITH “HEARTBREAK GETAWAY” - a vibrant new track that pulses with 80s energy and a distinctly modern pop sensibility. More than just a catchy tune, the track is a narrative of emotional transition, born from a period of creative breakthrough intertwined with personal heartache.
Visually, "HEARTBREAK GETAWAY" is a striking homage to the glamour of Christian Dior's Spring/Summer 1998 collection, channeling a hyper-feminine aesthetic reminiscent of "Sex and the City". The accompanying one-take music video, filmed on an old tube camera, further amplifies the nostalgic feel, nodding to 80s television and the timeless charm of Marilyn Monroe. King, a true visionary who meticulously crafts every aspect of her artistic world, discusses the collaborative process behind the track, working alongside Noah Urrea, Dillon Reed, Samuel Victoria, and Cowboy Lansky, and how their combined creativity shaped the song's infectious sound. From her early YouTube covers to her EPs Erotica and Orchid, Sara King continues to evolve, with "Heartbreak Getaway" signaling a bright and driving new chapter in her innovative pop journey.
In our interview, King delves into the specific experiences that fueled this "heartbreak anthem," revealing how a pivotal moment last summer sparked a need for self-reflection and artistic redirection.
LUNA: "HEARTBREAK GETAWAY" is described as a story of heartache, distraction, femininity and freedom. Can you delve into the specific experiences or emotions that inspired this narrative?
KING: This song emerged from a pivotal transition I experienced around last summer – a period of creative breakthroughs, unlike anything I had felt before. With that came a wave of emotions and heartbreak. It made me realize I needed to take a step back from certain relationships and spend some time alone to kind of sift through my thoughts on my purpose and creativity. It was a difficult decision, so that’s what led me to create this sort of heartbreak anthem.
LUNA: The song is visually influenced by Christian Dior's Spring/Summer 1998 collection. How did this specific collection inspire the song's themes and aesthetic?
KING: As we developed the song, particularly the second verse, I asked myself, 'Who am I singing this for?’. I kept imagining a group of hyper feminine, high-fashion girls and to me, this is a clique inspired song. Think Sex And The City meets the runway. I think once I had that imagery in my head, I revisited that specific runway show, and used some of those photos to help finish the song all together.
LUNA: The music video is a one-take shot on an old tube camera, with nods to 1980s television and Marilyn Monroe. What was the concept behind this visual approach, and how does it enhance the song's message?
KING: When conceptualizing the visuals, I sat down with my close friend and movement director, Alejandro Lara. We went through a handful of ideas and concepts, but it became clear that this video had to be a dance-driven visual. We ended up going to the dance studio to begin practicing what movement felt right to pair with the song, and from there we landed on the concept; a clean and straightforward dance routine. The setting came to me when I stumbled upon a photo of Marilyn Monroe in a photography studio, posed in front of a white seamless backdrop with old-Hollywood cameras and lighting in the frame. From there I knew it had to be a minimalist white backdrop, an all white outfit, and a single uninterrupted shot – no cuts, just pure expression.
LUNA: You collaborated with Noah Urrea, Dillon Reed, Samuel Victoria, and Cowboy Lansky on the track. How did this collaborative process shape the final sound of "HEARTBREAK GETAWAY"?
KING: Creatively, this song came together really quickly - it was the fastest I had ever written. We started it in November of last year when I brought in a raw voice note of the intro and first verse melody. Sam and I began building out the structure and decided to record a scratch vocal on top of the demo, that’s when Noah joined the session. The first vocal take I did for the chorus ended up being the final melody - I don’t know where it came from, but I recall looking up and seeing their reactions when I sang it for the first time. They were like “that’s it”. I went home and wrote the lyrics out for the rest of the night and told them the concept later that evening. Around that time I had recently gotten into the song ‘Heartbreak Beat’ by The Psychedelic Furs, so when I wrote out the lyric ‘heartbreak’ I felt as though it matched the era and its drama.
LUNA: How do you balance nostalgia with contemporary pop elements in your music and visuals?
KING: I grew up loving pop music, and my mom loved showing us classic rom-coms from the 80’s, so I feel like being able to balance both elements in my music has been easy for me to do. I think there are quite a bit of 80’s elements in today’s pop music too, so it’s nice to have those as references to also help balance it out. Meeting producer Dillon Reed really fueled my love for music during that era even more, because we both share a deep appreciation for that time which makes working together feel a lot more natural – we understand each other's ideas really well.
LUNA: You meticulously design every aspect of your creative world, from your sonic landscape to your visuals. What drives this level of control and artistic direction?
KING: I think I’ve always been drawn to the visual aspect of creating anything, I think music and visuals go hand in hand for me, I love to create an entire landscape for something to live in. In a lot of cases, the visual concept is built in my head first, and I write the song from that point. I think I will always want to have a hand in my creative direction and visual worlds, it’s probably what drives my inspiration the most.
LUNA: Your Erotica and Orchid EPs explored different facets of your artistry. How does "HEARTBREAK GETAWAY" fit into the evolution of your sound and vision?
KING: I wanted to showcase my sultry / jazzy side first with Erotica, because that is a huge part of my style and sound, and it’s something that naturally flowed out of me at the time of making it. When I created Orchid, I had evolved into a space that felt more experimental and wanted to incorporate more dream-pop, nostalgic elements – especially in My Flowers Grow and GIRLFRIEND – to my sound. It allowed me to experiment with something that ended up helping shape where I am now. HEARTBREAK GETAWAY feels like the matured version of what Orchid was; it’s more driving, more pop, more crisp. Orchid was like a hazy dream, this new chapter feels like a bright neon light.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for this spring season?
KING: This spring feels like a clean slate for me with my artistic vision and sound - I feel like I’ve started a new chapter of my career and I’m excited for where it leads me. It feels like I’m making the music I’ve always wanted to make, and I’m incredibly eager to finally release what I’ve been working on for the last year or so.
