As is the case with plenty of records released in the early months of 2020, talker’s EP Wax has become more relevant than ever. The spilled-guts verses of Celeste Tauchar have taken on new meanings post-pandemic, not least of which is the EP’s closer “Personal Space,” which is something most of us seem to be having trouble finding cooped up in our apartments for months with a roommate or two (or three or four).
This is the precise reason Tauchar chose the track to record a new video for, as well as to name her new social media campaign after. “Personal Space” comes to life with a quarantine-shot video applying the claustrophobic dimensions of an Instagram video to convey the track’s struggle. The rest of the clip features lots of disembodied hands touching her face and silhouettes looming in the background—a relatable representation of quarantining in a cramped living space.
You can check out the video below, and read on for a brief Q&A with Tauchar, who walks us through the video’s accompanying Personal Space campaign, in which she grills folks in her creative circle how they’re finding ways to find personal space. You can follow that project on her Instagram.
What spurred the idea for the Personal Space campaign?
I wrote this song over a year ago, but it’s really become more relevant than ever for me during quarantine. I had a few people reach out to me saying the same thing, so I thought it would be cool to bring it into the situation. The song is about getting personal space from yourself, from the chaos in your brain, and obviously most of us are stuck with our thoughts all the time now. So I wanted to not only make a video, but also create something where other people could contribute their stories and how they’re getting personal space.
What’s your goal for the project?
I really want to allow others to feel seen through this—people who are struggling, particularly those who live alone or are in less than perfect living situations throughout this. By having my friends and fans share their own experiences, I hope it helps people appreciate those moments where they do have personal space, and how important it is to create time for those moments.
I’m also going to be hosting some live sessions over the course of next week where I chat with some artists and friends I admire about how they’re coping—I hope people can see how others are getting space and feel some sort of connection, even if it’s virtually.
Do you find it’s easier to be in your own personal space when you’re online? Or harder?
So much harder. I hate the internet lately—it just makes me feel bad about myself. But also it has this other beautiful side that is allowing us to connect with each other right now, and is allowing me to create this project and help people share their experiences. It’s a double-edged sword. But I definitely try to stay off of my phone/computer as much as possible. I need to really tune out to feel some sense of peace and stay grounded.
Does it surprise you to hear how others are finding personal space? Does it differ from how you’re managing to do it?
I have been surprised by some of the responses for sure! It’s cool to see people being creative with how they’re coping. A friend of mine shared a tarot reading which was something I wasn’t really expecting to see via an Instagram story. But yeah, I mean I think everyone is doing it in their own way, myself included. I’m super lucky to have a backyard, so I try to sit out there and listen to music while I work or read. And again…putting my phone away.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve found yourself doing while by yourself in quarantine?
Watching copious amounts of Desperate Housewives has definitely been a strange addiction I didn’t expect. Please don’t tell.
