Maltese musician and X Factor Malta judge Alexandra Alden has released her latest single ‘Wild Honey & Thyme’, and it is a soft, nostalgic throwback to a more innocent time in everyone’s lives.

“I was frustrated by how the landscape of Malta and Gozo is being consumed by buildings, litter and all sorts of pollution,” Alex said. “Having been studying in the Netherlands while reading about overdevelopment in the news was getting me down, it made me feel helpless and like I couldn’t do anything.”

“The only way to vent the frustration was to write a song about it,” she continued. “On the world stage, we are losing touch with nature. We are overvaluing the manufactured instead of adapting and evolving with the natural.”

The music video portrays Alden taking on two roles opposed to one another

In one role, she is carefree and at peace with her surroundings, enjoying the familiar landscape which is available to everyone. In her other persona she is luxuriously wealthy, but disconnected, despairing and lost.

“We see nature as something separate from ourselves rather than as an extension of ourselves,” the singer-songwriter explained. “If we feed our bodies junk then it they will look like junk and feel like junk.”

The video is a collaboration between Alden and Marie Claire Portelli

“Marie Claire did the camera work after I approached her with the concept,” Alden said. “We edited the video together in a very effortless way, bouncing ideas off each other. The process was very natural and we have a great creative flow which I haven’t experienced with anyone else when it comes to visuals. The process was so seamless, that we let each other into our vulnerable spaces of creativity without even noticing.”

The video-making process flowed easily

“We would have moments when the footage just magically slotted into place followed by great lightbulb, ‘aha’ moments together in the continuation of the story,” she said.

“She has a background in visuals and filmmaking and has a solid portfolio of work, having worked with artists such as Joe Roscoe previously, however, the video idea only came about after we agreed to just work on an instagram collaboration together. She has a keen eye and sensitivity which I really admire in her process.”

Pictured above: Alex Alden and MarieClaire Portelli

Tag someone who will love this!

READ NEXT: X Factor Malta Judge Alex Alden Apologises For Her ‘Out Of Order’ Behaviour On Last Night’s Show

Johnathan Cilia

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]