Music Video Filmed at Castle in North Carolina

Indie alt artist Melanie Penelope and friends shot video for sad song “Broken Fairytale” at Castle Mont Rouge in Rougemont, NC

December 6, 2024

NC musician Melanie Penelope released her first music video last week for the song “Broken Fairytale,” set at the captivating Castle Mont Rouge.

Watch the music video here: https://youtu.be/3grMAboEwes

“Why’d I have to fill my cup with a sugar sweet poison? Why’d I have to save my heart for a man in a song?” Penelope sings.

The video follows the narrative of a young woman with an endless love for a man from her past. It aims to be vulnerable, soft, and aching. “Broken Fairytale” juxtaposes a love story through rose-tinted glasses with reality.

The song is about heartbreak, unrequited love, and fantasies and illusions crumbling. Listeners say the sound reminds them of Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish, and Ingrid Michaelson.

Penelope wrote, recorded, sang, and produced the “Broken Fairytale” track. She cites Damien Rice as a huge influence on her music.

“I wanted to make something people can’t ignore,” Penelope said. “So hopefully, they’ll see it, click on it, and say, ‘hey, I like her music!’ And stick around. I have so many more songs and music video ideas – a debilitating amount.”

The “Broken Fairytale” music video draws inspiration from fantasy worlds and romantasy shows like The Vampire Diaries, cinematic music videos by artists like David Kushner, and fairytale visuals seen in “Love Story” by Taylor Swift.

There was no budget for the video project, save for some Chinese food — it was made with the help of friends.

NC artists/multi-hyphenates Paulina Simone Quisol, Manda Mikala, and Melanie Penelope shot the film. The youngest member of the crew was Ava Quisol.

Castle Mont Rouge is a full-scale project by artist, and another pal of Penelope’s, Robert Mihaly. He has dedicated years toward its construction with the goal of bringing more classic beauty into the modern world. Mihaly is also a sculptor and painter, and has a cameo in the video.

A behind-the-scenes video documenting the making of “Broken Fairytale” is to follow on Penelope’s YouTube channel.

About the Artist

Melanie Penelope is an acoustic alternative singer songwriter with a splash of indie pop and twang. She’s known for warm, emotive vocals and wistful, sometimes humorous lyrics. She writes, produces, and performs her material, and doesn’t autotune her vocals. She got her start on YouTube uploading covers, originals, and silly videos as “thespartanchannel.”

Penelope’s other singles out now include “Escape Me,” an angsty indie alternative pop tune (and fan favorite), “Happy Birthday,” a girly melancholy piano track, and “Frankenstein,” a satirical Halloween story song.

Her debut album Into Skulls is slated for release late 2025.

Paulina Simone Quisol’s band Leclere plans to release their first album as well this winter. Manda Mikala has various fiction podcasts out on streaming as Manic Bee Media and artwork as Silly Pumpkin Doodles, plus a romantasy novel in the works titled Unbitten.

“Broken Fairytale” was mixed and mastered by Daniel Shepherd of Hologram Mastering.

Melanie Penelope is also known as Melanie Lech, an actress, writer, and comedy creator.