Honey Trap Talks New Cinematic Video for Single “Outlaws”
Honey Trap is a fierce female-fronted hard rock band, hailing from the bustling streets of New York City. Their signature sound is a unique blend of sensual, yet edgy vocals over melodic guitar, groovy bass licks, and heavy-hitting drum beats. With their unwavering passion for music and creating unforgettable performances, Honey Trap is a band to watch out for. Their dedication to pushing boundaries and exploring new creative horizons is a testament to their commitment to the art of rock and roll, and it’s only a matter of time before they make their mark on the global music scene.
It all started with a riff, and then everything came together from there. Drawing influences from music legends like Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses, and Soundgarden, “Outlaws” is a stirring rock anthem, mixed in with hints of southern metal as well as elements from the post-grunge era. The lyrics evoke a sense of relentless pursuit and adventure, capturing the essence of those who live on the fringes of society. The powerful chorus serves as a rallying cry, emphasizing unwavering commitment and unity among all those who consider themselves renegades. The verses depict the harsh realities and dangers faced, adding a layer of intrigue and urgency. The song’s vivid imagery takes listeners on a journey across vast landscapes, symbolizing boundless freedom and an unstoppable spirit.
Honey Trap’s latest video for their song “Outlaws” offers an exhilarating departure from the traditional music video format, presenting a cinematic experience that captivates from start to finish. Set against the backdrop of a futuristic dystopian desert wasteland, “Outlaws” unfolds like a high-octane short film, the elements of the Wild West prominent in every shot. Throughout the video, the band members, Jessica Rendon, and Vasilios Bouras, appear as central characters in the story, their intense expressions and dynamic movements adding depth to the unfolding drama. The combination of Wild West train heists, horses, guns, and motorcycles creates a dynamic and engaging visual experience in a captivating ode to the adventurous outlaw in all of us. With this cinematic masterpiece, Honey Trap invites its audience to embark on a thrilling journey, one that transcends time and genre.
The crew weighed in on their rise and the hard hitting video for “Outlaws”
Your name, Honey Trap, suggests a mix of sweetness and danger. How does this concept play into your music and the image you project as a band?
“As a band, we strive to create an alluring and captivating sound that draws listeners in, much like a ‘Honey Trap,’ the secret agent that will use seduction and charm to attract its targets.
The duality of the band name symbolizes the intent to lure people in with beautiful and sweet melodic sounds, while also exploring a darker more thought-provoking side by diving deeper into the lyrics and music.”
As a band, how do you approach the creative process? Do you have any rituals or practices that help you stay inspired?
“Before each rehearsal, we always grab a coffee or a drink and spend time together talking about and listening to new music or videos. We share what we’ve found and any ideas we’d like to incorporate regarding sound or mood. We’re not set only in our original musical inspirations from when we were teenagers, but constantly shifting and changing our ideas.”
’Outlaws’ has a rebellious and raw energy. What inspired the creation of this song, and what message do you want listeners to take away from it?
“I had seen the trailer for the movie ‘The Bikeriders’, based on the bike gang called the Outlaws. I knew that the lyrics I could write for such a topic as an outlaw would be perfect for a riff I had heard Vasilios playing on the guitar at a recent jam. It would be alluring yet violent.”
Can you talk about the story behind the lyrics of ‘Outlaws’? What was going through your mind when you wrote it?
“Danger comes to mind! Vasilios and I are both very visual people in that we like to have certain imagery in our minds while we write music. We hear in colors and shapes and wanted to create a song that makes you feel like an Outlaw in a Wild West film.”
The track has a powerful and gritty sound. How did you develop the arrangement and production to match the song’s rebellious spirit?
“Vasilios wanted this song to have a more of an upbeat and catchy hard rock tune with a bluesy southwestern vibe to it. There are elements of southern rock mixed in the track while you can still hear classic rock influences like Soundgarden, Led Zeppelin, and Guns & Roses.
The music video for ‘Outlaws’ is visually striking and perfectly captures the song’s rebellious vibe. What was the concept behind it, and how did you bring that vision to life?
“Based on the original idea of an outlaw on a motorcycle, we then took that motorcycle to the south and into the desert. I’m part Native American and I wanted to have that more for my character, incorporating feathers and horseback riding to mirror Vasilios’ outlaw as the bike rider in leather.
Vasilios and I wrote the script together after our drummer Cody had the idea of filming on a train. V located an awesome steam engine train in the small town of Ely, Nevada four hours North of Vegas and the backdrop was breathtaking. This took it to a whole other level of excitement for us!
My band’s full of video game and anime enthusiasts so we took on elements from games like Fallout, Red Dead Redemption, and Borderlands as well as animes like Trigun to create the setting. Outlaws is supposed to take place in a dystopian future desert wasteland where two bandits engage in a battle while trying to rob the same train.
Can you share any behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the ‘Outlaws’ video? Were there any unexpected moments during the shoot?
“Vasilios and I both do martial arts and we’d been wanting to have a fight sequence in a video for a while. The storyline for Outlaws was a perfect opportunity! My buddy and fellow black sash graduate Corey Pierno is a stunt coordinator recently working on The Penguin as Colin Farell’s stunt double and he offered his skills to choreograph the whole scene.
Originally we were going to take our time and film the fight in a closed room but as we were on set we realized when else are we going to have a chance to film a fight scene on a moving train. Luckily V and I practiced so much the night before that we were able to bang this out in 10-15min before the train had to come to a complete stop for the day. Not to mention Tom Flynn our cinematographer was on point! He nailed every angle we wanted to capture and it came out great!”
What do you hope viewers experience when they watch the ‘Outlaws’ music video? How do you think it adds to the overall impact of the song?
“We hope they have as much fun watching it as we had making it!
I think it adds to the impact of the song in that it shows the high stakes spoken in the lyrics by all the visuals, shootouts, and fight scenes.”
Looking back at the entire process of creating ‘Outlaws’, from writing the song to filming the music video, what has been the most rewarding part of this experience for you?
“As with each studio recording and on-set filming of a music video, we’ve grown closer as a band. We read each other better in the writing process, communicate better in the studio and we’ve learned to be more efficient. Overall it makes us more professional, especially when allowed to work with great musical producers like Dave Schiffman and filmmakers like Tom Flynn. We up our game each time and are always so grateful to be able to make our musical visions come true.”
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