For her, she is less about YouTube-worthy gimmicks and more about embracing the essential whimsy of the medium itself, whilst stealthily dodging the one-dimensionality stalking the Pop genre. “In general, and especially with popular music, I like to embrace a sense of playfulness, and should there be an opportunity to celebrate it in a video, I find I will,” she says.
Admirer of art house directors Louis Malle, Dominik Moll, Krzysztof Kieslowski and Pawel Pawlikowski, Burza admits, “Sincerely, I’m not sure if it’s evident that they’ve influenced my work.” Though she trys “wherever possible to take inspiration from references that might be a little more outside the box.” Into a “darker” aesthetic these days, the director is drawn to the ethereal quality of Alison Scarpulla photography and the expressionism of Sarah Moon’s images and illustrations of women. But given the context of her own art, her videos are only able to hint at the sober character of her artistic palette while flaunting the ambidextrous skill of her wit. She explains, “At the end of the day, a music video, which although can be read as an artistic expression, will always be an advertisement for the artist and single.” That being the case, Burza has evidently honed her talent for disguising commercial prowess with creativity.
Interlacing cheeky overtones with droll undertones, Burza’s videos are often mischievous interpretations of the featured musician’s charisma. Check out her “I Feel Cream” video for electroclash queen Peaches: a dreamy ode to Ziggy Stardust and Euro club culture, injected with an alien sexuality distinctly Peaches, and a well-measured teaspoon of campy for added enchantment.
“I find music and videos that take themselves too seriously often boring, so it’s really a matter of taste for charm and having a bit of a sense of humour,” the director quips.
At the top of her game with a heap of projects on the go, Burza has temporarily benched her intentions to transition into the world of cinema. “When I turned 29 last year, I had a brief moment of panic, where I felt I had to make the transition into film,” she shares. “But then I also realized that I still want more time to experiment with videos and commercials before I commit to at least two years on a feature.”
And then there is the Internet’s dare to stay and create original content in what is revealing itself to be a borderless medium. The times are changing but Burza is prepared to let her work prove its adaptability. “It’s difficult to say if it’s for the better or worse. On one hand, it may be that we will never see the wholesomely produced, slick yet cool videos that were typical on our boxes in the 90s,” observes the director. “But on the other hand it’s allowed the industry to experience a rebirth and redefine what quality actually means!” For an updated definition, see Burza’s latest video.
