Ana Sky Brings “King of Hearts” to Life with a Cinematic New Music Video and UK Chart-Topping Momentum
BELLO Magazine sat down with rising pop artist Ana Sky as momentum around her chart-topping single “King of Hearts” continues to build. After reaching #1 on both the UK Pop Chart and the iTunes UK Main Chart, Sky has released the song’s official music video, a sweeping desert-set visual directed by Nayip Ramos and filmed at the striking Club Ed in Lancaster, California. Stark landscapes, cinematic tension, and a slow-burning romance expand the emotional world of the track, subtly continuing the visual storyline first introduced in her breakout single “Loving You Is Hard.” Discovered by legendary songwriter Diane Warren, Sky is quickly emerging as a compelling new voice in the pop-indie space, blending vintage soul influences, dreamy pop atmospheres, and emotionally precise songwriting. With a major international tour on the horizon alongside a soon-to-be-announced “Genius” artist, Ana Sky speaks with BELLO about the seductive tension behind “King of Hearts,” the vulnerability that fuels her music, and the cinematic world she’s building around it.
BELLO MAG: “King of Hearts” just hit #1 on the UK Pop Charts and on iTunes UK. What does this moment represent for you creatively and personally?
ANA SKY: This moment is truly so meaningful for me and my entire team, it is the culmination of an immense amount of hard work and love. As a new-er artist, I still feel humbled when even one person listens to my work, so having my song on those charts is surreal and monumental for me. There is so much that went into creating “King of Hearts,” but getting to see it spotlighted on such an established stage makes all the blood, sweat, and tears beyond worth it.
BELLO: This song feels both intoxicating and self-possessed. What emotional truth were you exploring when you wrote it?
AS: In writing this song, more than anything else I wanted to communicate the paradox of finding strength through vulnerability. It’s a special kind of emotional alchemy that occurred for me when I was confronted with the pain of betrayal. I found that instead of bringing me to my knees, that experience gave me the clarity and resilience to stand up for myself in a way I had never been able to before.
BELLO: There’s a cinematic, almost vintage-romantic quality to the production. What inspired the sonic world of “King of Hearts”?
AS: For this song we really wanted to find that balance of taking vintage inspired sounds and giving them a contemporary feeling. There are a lot of influences from the 60’s and 70’s in “King of Hearts” in particular, as well as inspiration from artists such as Amy Winehouse and Adele.
BELLO: Your music often balances vulnerability with control. How do you navigate power dynamics in your songwriting?
AS: I love exploring complex emotions through my writing, and I think this song is a prime example of that. Maybe it’s the scientist in me, but I find the mind so objectively fascinating, and in particular I have always felt drawn to dialectically opposing forces like vulnerability and control. It’s my way of trying to understand my own contradictory thoughts and feelings; in trying to understand both sides of the coin, I’m looking for a better appreciation of the whole.
BELLO: You studied embryology before fully committing to music. How does that analytical, scientific background inform the way you construct songs?
AS: I think that my background in science informs so much of how I operate as an artist; music has become a different kind of microscope through which I can study and learn about the world around me. At its core, science is about asking questions to increase understanding, and I think that in general a lot of the inspiration for my music stems from that curiosity. My outlook has always skewed towards the analytical, but as a songwriter I get a unique opportunity to transmute that perspective through a creative lens.
BELLO: If “King of Hearts” were translated into a fashion editorial, what would it look and feel like?
AS: I see “King of Hearts” as taking on a very vintage style informed by 60s/70s aesthetics. Visually the song also incorporates influences from the cinematic worlds characterizing that time period. It’s high drama with some camp and romance elements. Think “The Love Witch” meets “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “Valley of the Dolls.”
BELLO: Working with AC Burrell helped shape this release. What did that collaboration unlock in you artistically?
AS: My whole journey into music is a tribute to AC’s influence in my life. From day one he saw something in me that he helped nurture and develop, and so much of who I am as an artist today is a direct result of our work together. Not only is he an incredible teacher and mentor, but he has created an environment in which I feel safe exploring parts of myself that are close to my heart. I can’t overemphasize what a difference it has made to who I am as a musician having that kind of unwavering support, faith, and guidance behind me, especially from someone as accomplished and talented as AC.
BELLO: Love is a recurring theme in your work, but it never feels simplistic. What does modern romance mean to you right now?
AS: In all honesty I think I am still trying to parse out the answer to that question, and that analysis forms the basis for a lot of my song writing. However, something I am coming to have a better appreciation of is that real love has to come from within.
BELLO: You’ve been described as blending nostalgia with contemporary edge. How do you avoid falling into pastiche while still honoring classic influences?
AS: I think for me it’s about balancing retrospective influences with my own unique introspection and taste. While I feel very inspired by the past, I tend to blend elements from different eras– both modern and historical– in order to avoid nodding to any one period of history too specifically. I focus on things that I feel personally drawn to and inspired by rather than trying to recreate something that has already been done, in addition to incorporating some dreamy, ethereal details. The result (I hope) is an aesthetically and sonically unique world that integrates past and contemporary facets with a sense of magical realism.
BELLO: This release feels like a statement. What are you claiming or redefining in this new era?
AS: My initial releases really served as my introduction to the musical stage, but this song feels like it marks the start of a new phase of my music. I’m not announcing my arrival anymore, I’m telling the world who I am now that I am here.
BELLO: BELLO celebrates bold visual storytelling. How important is image and aesthetic world-building in your artistry?
AS: Storytelling is a huge part of my art as well as who I am as a person, so that is something I absolutely try to incorporate into my music. I want listeners to feel transported when they hear my songs, similar to the way one might feel when they are engrossed in a compelling movie or a good book. Every layer of my art is very intentional for that reason, especially when it comes to the visual representation of my songs. From the colors and textures we use, to the editing style and prop choices, there is a story behind every element that contributes to the overall narrative, both within the world of that specific record as well as within the cumulative landscape painted by my catalogue as a whole.
BELLO: After the chart success and tour momentum, what does the next chapter look like for Ana Sky?
AS: This next phase of my career looks to be extremely exciting and significant for my music. Completing my first tour was not only an enormously significant milestone for me as a new artist, but it was also an irreplaceable learning experience and proof of concept. At the end of the day though it all comes down to the music. So gaining that traction both with audiences directly and on the charts has been fueling a new fire for my art as a whole. With the next wave of touring and performances on the horizon, I feel like I have an amazing foundation to build on, and I can’t wait to share the new music, collaborations, and other projects that my team and I have been working on.
You can follow Ana Sky on IG at @AnaSky and keep up with news and tour dates at https://www.anaskymusic.com/
