Redrum (Era Istrefi song)

"Redrum" (palindrome for "Murder") is a song by Kosovo-Albanian singer and songwriter Era Istrefi featuring Australian producer Felix Snow. The song was written by Istrefi, David Singer and William Vanderhayden, and produced by Felix Snow and Mark Ralph. It was released for digital download and streaming on 24 February 2017 by B1 and Ultra. It is an English-language dance, pop and R&B song, focusing on the concept materialism, with Istrefi telling her love interest to remain true to himself.

"Redrum"
Single by Era Istrefi featuring Felix Snow
Released24 February 2017 (2017-02-24)
Genre
Length2:49
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Era Istrefi
  • David Singer
  • William Vanderhayden
Producer(s)
  • Felix Snow
  • Mark Ralph
Era Istrefi singles chronology
"BonBon"
(2016)		 "Redrum"
(2017)		 "No I Love Yous"
(2017)
Music video
"Redrum" on YouTube

"Redrum" garnered positive reviews from music critics, who praised its appeal and lyrics as well as Istrefi's appearance and vocal delivery. A femme fatale-influenced music video was uploaded to Ultra's YouTube channel simultaneously with the single's release, portraying Istrefi within a murderous aesthetic. Commercially, the song attained success, topping the charts in Albania and reaching the top 50 in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the United States.

Background and composition

Era Istrefi began pursuing a professional music career in 2013 and rose to international attention, following her breakthrough single, "BonBon", in early 2016.[1] Released as her follow-up single to the latter under B1 and Ultra, "Redrum" premiered for digital download and streaming on 24 February 2017.[2] It was written by Istrefi, David Singer and William Vanderhayden, while produced by Felix Snow and Mark Ralph.[3] The song's title is a palindrome for "Murder" that emerged from a scene in the psychological horror film The Shining (1980).[4] Musically, "Redrum" is a dance, pop and R&B song, going "heavy" on the hooks and "delicately" on its production.[5] Written from the perspective of a woman who is not impressed by materialism, the lyrics find Istrefi telling her love interest that she needs him to remain true to himself and even though she knows the relationship has many deficits, she is willing to see it through.[6] Lyrics include: "My love is bittersweet, but I can show you heaven but first get on your knees, close your eyes and count to seven/ I don't care if you're a peasant or a king, If you're with me then you're everything"[6]

Reception

Upon its release, "Redrum" received positive reviews from music critics. Truman Ports of V Magazine acknowledged the song's lyrics to preserve "something mysterious and threatening" and lauded Istrefi's "sensual" and "commanding" vocals as well as her expressions during her visual performance.[4] As of Beautiful Buzzz's Mike Doose, the song possesses "the sex appeal of Dua Lipa and Rihanna" along with the "mystique and allure of Alunageorge and Kiiara", also noting its potential to be a "global hit across continents and cultures".[7] BigFM's staff commended Istrefi's fashion within a "murderous aesthetic" and described the song to be a "bit calmer and with less Balkan flair" than her breakthrough single, "BonBon".[8] Jonathan Currinn from Critic Jonni similarly complimented the singer's fashion as well as the song, writing that it's "a definite step in the right direction, showing her off perfectly as an artist".[9] Commercially, "Redrum" topped the charts in Albania on the last issue of the country's Top 100 chart for the week ending on 12 March 2017.[10] The song also reached number 26 in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and number 45 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart.[11][12]

Music video

A music video for "Redrum" was uploaded to Ultra's YouTube channel simultaneously with the single's release on 24 February 2017.[13] Production team SixTwentySix was hired for the shooting, for which Millicent Hailes was credited as the director and both Austin Barbera and Jake Krask as the executive producers.[13] A red-themed video, the visual opens with Istrefi walking with red knee-high boots and a red sheer cape flowing behind her.[4] Scenes interspersed through the main plot portray the singer performing in a smoky-surrounding and red-colored setting.[13] Other notable scenes include a shot of Istrefi's nails with blood dripping down her finger as well as a shot of her in front of a mirror.[4][9] Generally viewed positively by reviewers, V Magazine's Truman Ports pointed out femme fatale influences in the video, and praised Istrefi's red-colored fashion further saying that it fits the video's "murderous aesthetic".[4] Currinn from Critic Jonni described the video as being a "great visual" and wrote that there is "something interesting to watch and keep the audience entertained, but at the same time, it doesn't give anything new to the viewers".[9]

Track listing
  • Digital download[2]
  1. "Redrum" – 2:49

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Spotify and YouTube.[3][13]

Technical credits
  • Era Istrefi – lead artist, songwriting
  • Felix Snow – featured artist, producing
  • David Singer – songwriting
  • Mark Ralph – producing
  • William Vanderhayden – songwriting
Music video credits
  • Austin Barbera – producing
  • Christ Varonos – producing manager
  • Jake Krask – producing
  • Jen Kennedy – editing
  • Luis Panch Perez – directing of photography
  • Millicent Hailes – directing
  • Skye Jones – producing designer

Charts
Chart performance for "Redrum"
Chart (2017) Peak
position
Albania (The Top List)[10] 1
CIS (Tophit)[11] 26
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[12] 45

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Redrum"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various 24 February 2017
  • B1
  • Ultra
[2]

References
  1. "Era Istrefi erobert die Welt" (in German). AlbInfo. 25 May 2016. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  2. "Redrum – Single by Era Istrefi featuring Felix Snow on Apple Music". Apple Music. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. "Redrum – Single by Era Istrefi featuring Felix Snow on Spotify". Spotify. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  4. Ports, Truman (24 February 2017). "Watch Era Istrefi's New Music Video 'Redrum'". V Magazine. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  5. Flynn, Niall (6 March 2017). "Watch the Video for new Era Istrefi Single 'Redrum'". Tmrw Magazine. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  6. "Video Premiere: Era Istrefi – 'Redrum'". YMMW. 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  7. Doose, Mike (28 February 2017). "Era Istrefi – Redrum feat. Felix Snow". Beautiful Buzzz. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  8. "'Redrum' handelt von bittersüßer Liebe – und von Mord?" (in Albanian). BigFM. 2 March 2017. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  9. Currinn, Jonathan (24 February 2017). "New Release: Era Istrefi Featuring Felix Snow – Redrum". Critic Jonni. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  10. "The Top List – 12/03/2017" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 12 March 2017. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  11. Era Istrefi featuring Felix Snow — Redrum. Tophit. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  12. "Era Istrefi Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  13. Era Istrefi featuring Felix Snow – Redrum | Official Music Video. Ultra Music. 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022 – via YouTube. Note: Open description for credits.
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