Rock Monsters Romania

The alternative rock group Heartbreak Cinema has released a song with a powerful message that cannot go unnoticed by the listeners. Punk was not created to be comfortable, and “Fuckaholic” showcases the roots of the genre by exposing the negative experiences of Maria Teodora and her collaborator Iris Danciu.

Unfortunately, any woman can resonate with the message of Heartbreak Cinema‘s new song. Without beating around the bush, the lyrics describe the frustration, trauma, and the feeling of reclaiming oneself experienced by Maria Teodora, the band’s lead singer, and Iris Danciu, the artist with whom the band collaborated to infuse their authentic flair into the sound. Overall, both the song and the music video point a big middle finger at abusers, manipulators, perverts, and those who place blame on the victims of abuse.

Maria Teodora: “From the very beginning of the Heartbreak Cinema project, we wanted to address such delicate subjects. But we didn’t know exactly how or where to start until, from a simple discussion with Iris after a concert, we arrived at a project that narrates these traumatic experiences. In essence, we wanted to highlight the existence of hierarchies, people with a certain material, social, and professional influence who exploit their status to satisfy their professional and, more importantly, personal needs. Essentially, the ‘fulfillment’ of these individuals comes at the expense of the physical and mental health of the victims. As for the song, even though at first listen, it may seem like it’s just condemning and denigrating these abusers, it also serves as a form of empowerment for the victims, letting them know they are not alone and encouraging them to share their stories in any way they wish, as it is their right. Though it’s a sensitive and perhaps taboo topic for many, we wanted to increase awareness, consciousness, and accountability of the public regarding the existence of such abuses, and we plan to get even more involved in such causes in the future.“

Iris Danciu: “The purpose and message of the song hit me right where it hurts the most. I don’t say this as a bad thing; quite the opposite. When Radu and Maria approached me, this collaboration gave me the chance to express certain traumas in the best way, through music. Being a bad person is not gender-specific, but in this case, we’re talking about patriarchy, and we can’t ignore the power abuses that occur in this context. Specifically, abusers hide behind carefully crafted appearances, often being colleagues, friends, or very talented artists. However, behind closed doors and away from prying eyes, something completely different happens. And who will believe you? Or worse, be forced to remain silent, so as not to tarnish the beautifully constructed reputation built on lies. But guess what? I won’t contribute to appearances because the wound of injustice is too deep. There are far too many people and actions that go unpunished. Where is karma? This is where the song comes in, helping me to externalize my feelings in this regard. Even though the words are harsh, it’s my truth, and I can’t change that. I’ve become much more alert to these warning signs, and that’s what I hope for those who will listen to the song: to be safe and listen to their intuition. Or, why not, listen to the song on repeat and regain their power.“

Radu Bădilaș: “Music tastes even better when it comes with an important message. In this case, it’s a very current one, as the internet is filled with news about abuse cases, where reading the comments is often more shocking than the articles themselves. The blame game against the victims unfolds daily on Facebook, and it’s a macabre spectacle we can no longer ignore. I can’t even count all the stories I’ve heard from friends about the lack of humanity (beyond the lack of common sense) of certain people who are accustomed to power and influence without any consequences. After adding Iris and Maria’s untold stories to the pile, we decided to use the unfiltered nature of the Heartbreak Cinema project to give musical form to our frustrations. As expected, it resulted in an angry rock infused with rebellion, laced with female strength, and no shortage of explicit words, delivered as is. The pain of the victims is undoubtedly very difficult to heal, but sometimes all it takes is a sincere, guttural ‘fuck you’ from a heart that has been clenched for too long. With confidence!”

“Fuckaholic” is now available on all streaming platforms.

Do you want to see them live? You’ve got the opportunity at BandBook Showcase Festival in November.