Exclusive Premiere: Watch Andi Star’s Emotive New Video For ‘Last Night’

Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Andi Star began training in Hindustani classical music at the age of nine. Soon after, she grew obsessed with pop artists such as Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Ross Lynch and Sabrina Carpenter. “They had a huge influence on me to become a popstar,” says the singer.  

Star began releasing her own music in 2021 in the shape of a few singles. The musician is now dropping a music video for last year’s melancholic pop-rock track “Last Night” exclusively on Rolling Stone India. We caught up with the artist to discuss the song and her experience of working on the clip. Read excerpts below:  

What was the process of writing “Last Night” like? 

I wrote the first version, which interestingly is similar to the final version, in March last year. I think creating any form of art is like a connection with the universe; it’s kind of like the universe is making art through you, if that makes sense. So, there are songs that I finish writing in five minutes, and there are songs that take a few hours, maybe days to finish. For songs where the first take is the final version, you really sit back after you’re done writing it and go, I wrote that! I was also listening to a lot of pop-rock stuff back then like 5SOS, JXDN and Zach Hood, and I knew that sonically the direction I wanted to go with my next song was pop-rock. 

Lyrically, it’s a sad song about someone cheating on you, and yet being unable to leave the relationship, because you like that feeling, in a weird way. It’s also about being so in love with someone that even knowing they don’t have the same love for you anymore, and are lying to your face, you don’t want to walk out. 

Where was the song recorded? 

Most of my songs start off with just me singing them on my piano in my room, but I usually have a sonic direction in my head. When I sent my song to my producer, Diego Fernandes, I sent him a few references with the kind of vision I had in mind, and the first draft he sent back was very close to how I wanted the song to sound like. 

I recorded the vocals in Cali Recording Studios (Mumbai). It’s my second time recording there, and I remember the engineers just bobbing their head vibing while I was singing, which is a cool feeling. One thing I value very much is how my vocals sound on the track; since this one has a lot of high notes, it was fun recording it. I’m also very keen on how my vocals are produced, and I was very particular with that with my producer. 

What can you tell me about the music video, your experience of putting it together and the people you worked with? 

This was actually my first time making a professional music video; earlier it was literally just my mom filming me with an iPhone, which is cool too. I reached out to Siddharth Ahuja and 1520 Motion Pictures when I came across some of their work that I really liked. We met at a cafe and from the get-go I really liked their vibes and also their passion towards the song. The video is directed by Vivan Shukla who I think did an incredible job with the filming and editing. We shot this at Vivan’s house, and my favorite sequence has to be the one in the white dress in the bridge. I felt like a princess in that one. The rest we shot at Madh Island and it was a blast. 

This song is quite melancholic, and we wanted to capture the angst in the video. However, in real life I am a bubbly person, and I like how the video has elements of my personality while still being angsty and melancholic. As an artist it’s very important for me to be presented in the way I envision it, and they were very open to my suggestions, and I love the video we made. Also, a shoutout to the entire team who helped with the hair and makeup, the costumes and everything else. 

What’s next for you? 

That’s a great question because up next, I have a new song coming out in literally a week called “Over You.” It’s a song that I love, and I hope the listeners like it too. I’d also love to start performing more this year as I think I’m at the stage where I can showcase my personality the best. 

Watch the music video for “Last Night” below: