Fluid, immersive and deeply personal “CHAMELEON” exists in that liminal space between sound, movement and memory. With this release by GAB SAFA, it is a cinematic dance project that unfolds as a three part composition and short film – an exploration of identity, belonging and the power of transformation.
Drawing from her experience as a third culture artist, GABS uses music and visual storytelling to examine what it means to live between worlds, constantly shapeshifting and yet also searching for home.
In this exclusive interview, GABS opens up about the origins of “CHAMELEON”, the inspiration behind its hypnotic visuals and the deeply hands-on process of directing a film she envisioned long before the music existed.
Blurring the lines between artist, filmmaker and performer, GABS invites audiences into a world that is intimate and expansive. One that asks us not just to watch or listen, but to step inside and feel something we may not have words for yet:
1.Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualise this song specifically in this way?
CHAMELEON is a cinematic dance EP (released as a 3-part track + a dance version Radio Edit) about navigating the in-between – the spaces between identities, homes, and selves. Growing up as a third culture kid, I’ve always felt from everywhere and nowhere at once, and I wanted to channel that tension into music. It’s about self-discovery, belonging, and finding power in fragmentation.
I’m an amalgam artist at heart – everything I do, whether it be acting, writing, producing, directing, or singing/songwriting, is just another channel for creative expression.
Directing the film for CHAMELEON felt like the obvious choice and allowed me to merge my skill set into one cohesive experience. The short film is not your typical music video and expands the story beyond sound, letting the audience feel the journey through movement, light and imagery as much as through the music itself. My hope is to always create spaces that feel lived in. I want people to step inside my work and feel like they’ve been there before and felt something similar before, even if they can’t explain why or what it is about it exactly.
2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?
The inspiration for the video came from my own background and experience, always living and shapeshifting between different worlds, both physically and emotionally.
I wanted to explore themes of identity, diaspora and self sovereignty, while creating a cinematic universe that feels immersive. Visually, the short film combines hypnotic, ethereal lighting, primal choreography and intimate close-ups to reflect the song’s emotional peaks and valleys.
The storyline follows a journey of self-discovery and reconciliation – moving through moments of uncertainty, tension, and liberation. Every visual choice – from set design to camera angles – was intentional, reflecting the interplay between the fractured self and the search for home, between memory and imagination.
By merging performance, music, and film, the video becomes more than just a song accompaniment; it’s a world for the audience to hopefully witness a part of themselves.
Displacement and longing for home isn’t just about geography; it’s an emotional condition. It’s the ache of being close to something you can never fully return to. I create to transform that ache into something communal, something beautiful.
3. What was the process of making the video?
Creating the CHAMELEON video was a deeply hands-on process.
In fact, I saw the film in my mind before even making the song and getting in the studio with my wildly talented music producer and composer, Kate Eberstadt. A version of the shot list already existed – literally moment to moment – as a visual story that guided the making of the music itself. I wrote, directed, and co-produced the short film, with my longtime collaborator and heart sister – director of photography Maria Raad – to ensure every frame told a story.
Pre-production involved storyboarding, rewrites of multiple shot lists, and visual concept development to align the music with cinematic narrative beats.
I love telling stories through visuals, and music adds another powerful layer. Directing my own video let me mix acting, movement, and cinematic shots all together into a seamless narrative. Filming took place over multiple days and locations, and we really got to experiment with camera movement, lighting, as well as different mediums to make the film feel intimate, immersive, and emotionally authentic. Post-production was a beast of its own! From the mixing, mastering, and engineering with my beautifully meticulous post producer, Matthew Tryba, to the video side with my unstoppable editor, Michael Gray—and incredible visual artist, Lucy London McDonald, who stepped in at the last minute to create the collages when they suddenly felt essential. I’m pretty sure my editor blocked me on all devices at this point!
Anyway, we definitely gave it everything, with long hours, work sessions spent editing, color grading, and syncing movement to the music, to create a multi-dimensional narrative experience where audiences can see, hear, and feel the story simultaneously.
Trust me: watch the film first and then make your way to the dance version Radio Edit (shoutout to fierce mixer AX.EL), to get the full intention and heart behind this project.
And reach out to let me know what you think. I always love to hear!
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