Latvian musician Māra Upmane-Holšteine, widely recognized as the lead singer of the band Astronauts, is releasing new work as a solo artist. Her latest single, “Pusmūža krīze” (Midlife Crisis), offers a deeply personal exploration of identity and self-discovery, previewing a full album of the same name expected this spring. The accompanying music video, filmed amidst a snowy Latvian landscape, visually interprets the song’s themes of change and introspection, according to both Upmane-Holšteine and director Toms Musts.
Māra Upmane-Holšteine, best known as the frontwoman of the Latvian band Astronauts, is unveiling a new side of her artistry with “Pusmūža krīze” (Midlife Crisis), her latest solo single. The release heralds the arrival of her upcoming album of the same name, slated for release this spring.
Upmane-Holšteine wrote and composed “Pusmūža krīze,” with mixing and mastering handled by Miks Pinzulis, also known as Mickeen. Accompanying the track is a visually striking music video, directed and filmed by Toms Musts.
“I’m not sure I even believe in one specific midlife crisis – I rather believe that we experience identity crises regularly, every couple of years, when we rediscover ourselves a little deeper,” Māra Upmane-Holšteine explained. “In the video, I’m searching for the old ‘me’ that is inevitably lost, but the new ‘me’ hasn’t yet emerged. This in-between state is filled with both despair and a sense of freedom, and the ultimate realization that external things like men, Botox, motorcycles, or other stereotypes aren’t the answer, but the journey inward, closer to oneself.”
Director and cinematographer Toms Musts shared insights into the video’s production: “Māra already had a specific concept in mind for this project, and my main task was to visually realize that concept. We had to shoot all the locations in one day, so we spent the day in active motion. A big shoutout to our team, who were very responsive and endured the snowy filming day!”
