Behind the Video: Dilyara Discusses Her Awe-Inspiring “Eden” Music Video

If ambition were a mountain, you would find Dilyara standing at the top of it. That’s something you quickly start to understand when you begin to learn about her artistry. One of her most incredible projects to date is the music video associated with the song “Eden.” While many artists don’t invest much time or thought into music videos anymore, Dilyara went all out with this video clip, travelling to an extraordinary place to record a truly extraordinary video. The grand purpose of the video is to remind humanity of its connection to Earth. If people were more cognizant of our link to nature, they might be more willing to be kind to the environment around them.

Dilyara released her debut album, Celestial Odyssey, back in August. Her music is both celestial and cinematic, which makes it go perfectly with grand visual accompaniments. The visual art is just as important to her as the music, with everything conceptually fitting together like pieces of a puzzle. Dilyara feels proud to share her vision with the world, and she hopes that you might take something away from this experience.

Joining us today for a Behind the Video interview is Dilyara, as we discuss the “Eden” video, its creation, and how videos connect with the music she makes.

What’s the concept behind the video? Help us to understand the video’s concept in more detail and how it ties into the lyrics or composition.

Dilyara: “The concept of ‘Eden’ was to translate sound into image — to make the music visible. Every frame mirrors the vibration of the composition. Through the video, I wanted to honour our planet as a living temple and to sing an ode to her beauty and intelligence. It’s a reminder that we are not separate from nature — we are nature herself.

“I also wanted to embody the four elements, fire, water, earth, and air,  each representing different aspects of life and consciousness. Together they create a visual symphony that reflects the essence of the song: the unity of all creation.”

Where was it made?

“In Socotra, Yemen. The ancient island is often compared to the original place of Eden in the Bible.”

Dilyara, photo by Eugenia Bakanova

What was your favourite part behind the creation of the video?

“Everything about creating ‘Eden’ was magical. We hiked for hours to reach a hidden cave where we filmed the fire scene, climbed towering dunes at 4 am to catch the first light of dawn, jumped into canyons, and swam with dolphins. Every moment felt alive, from exploring the wild landscapes to connecting with the local people. It was an adventure of pure beauty, where nature herself became part of the storytelling.”

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever had to do or seen being done during the making of a music video?

“There have been quite a few unusual moments! On Socotra, where we filmed ‘Eden,’ there’s no real infrastructure; we lived in tents and travelled off-road across the island in 4x4s, completely immersed in raw nature. Every day felt like an expedition into another world.

“But maybe the strangest experience was during my earlier music video, ‘Return of the Goddess.’ I was lying almost naked on cold soil beneath a thousand-year-old banyan tree, covered in raw mud that we dried with an industrial fan to create the effect of a stone woman cracking open. I couldn’t move for three hours in the cold. It was intense, but it captured exactly what the scene needed: the rebirth of the feminine through earth itself.”

Dilyara “Eden” single artwork

Was there anything during the making of this (or any other) music video that happened unexpectedly, or that you were surprised to learn?

“During the filming of my first music video in Bali, on the volcanic slopes of Kintamani, something truly unexpected happened. According to the script, we were supposed to film with an eagle, but at the very last moment, we learned that eagles weren’t allowed to fly in that area. The production team quickly came up with a creative solution; they found a real wolf pack living in Bali. It was unbelievable! In the end, the wolves brought an even deeper energy to the video, wild, mystical, and powerful, and the result turned out even better than we had imagined.”

Which band or artist do you think had the greatest music videos?

“I’ve always loved the old music videos of Enigma. They’re deeply symbolic, mysterious, and timeless. Each one feels like a spiritual journey wrapped in sound and imagery. Their work really showed me how visuals can carry the same depth and emotion as music itself.”

What should a music video set out to accomplish? Do you feel like yours did that?

“A music video should translate sound into visual form — it’s about giving shape and colour to vibration, and carrying the deeper message through symbols and emotion. It’s another dimension of storytelling. I believe my videos accomplish that; they reflect the frequency of the music and invite the viewer to feel the message rather than just hear it.”

How does the music inform the video in terms of visuals matching sound?

“For me, the sound always leads. The visuals are born from the vibration of the music itself, its rhythm, emotion, and energy. When I create, I see the sound: colours, movements, landscapes, elements. So the video becomes an extension of the music; each frame, texture, and motion follows the frequency of the composition. It’s like painting with sound and light at the same time.”

Who was part of the crew in making the video, and how did you put together the team?

“Actually, only one person from our team was a professional filmmaker. I directed the whole project myself — the concept, visuals, costumes, and makeup all came from my vision. My friend Svetlana supported me in production and organization, and she even learned how to do artistic makeup from scratch. She had no prior experience, but her creativity and devotion were incredible.

“We also had a few friends helping us; someone was the gaffer, another filmed the backstage, and someone else became the tailor. Everyone stepped in with their unique gifts. It felt like a family creating together. We all united with one purpose: to bring something truly beautiful into the world, something that carries a strong message and light.”

Behind the Video: Dilyara Discusses Her Awe-Inspiring “Eden” Music Video

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