Candy falls from the ceiling. Kitchen utensils become musical instruments. A group of local moms breaks into song and dance. It’s all part of the music video for “Moms Want to Have Fun,” the latest original release from Snoqualmie Valley artist and mom of two Zhanna K, aka Venus Moons.
Inspired by raising children in the Valley and the hardworking moms she’s met along the way, the upbeat song was released June 20, with part of the music video filmed in Snoqualmie earlier this month. She wanted to create something humorous, relatable, and uplifting that local parents could connect with as they headed into summer.
We caught up with her to talk about her musical journey, the inspiration behind the song, balancing music and motherhood, how her Circassian heritage influences her songwriting, and why she chose to celebrate the joy and humor of motherhood.
How did you first get started writing and performing music? I grew up immersed in the performing arts. As a child, I danced traditional Circassian folk dances, sang, played piano, and performed in Kabardino-Balkaria, a republic in southern Russia that is home to one of the largest Circassian communities. I even traveled with a dance group for a period of time.
After moving to the United States at age 20, I wrote my first two songs while living in New York City, although I never ended up producing them. My songwriting journey really took off just before the COVID pandemic, when I began writing more seriously and using music as a creative outlet. What started as a personal passion gradually evolved into the music I create and share today.
What or who inspired you to become a songwriter in the first place? The first song I have ever written was dedicated to God, so I believe God inspired me to become a songwriter and continues to inspire me today. In fact, the most recent song I wrote, just a few weeks ago, is called Prayer.
Songwriting is also how I process life. It’s how I make sense of joy, love, loss, past trauma, and present challenges. When inspiration strikes, I can’t ignore it—I have to write. Creating a song is my favorite part of the entire process, even more than releasing or performing it. Music is one of my love languages, right alongside making soup for the people I care about.
Are you a longtime Snoqualmie Valley local, and, if not, how did you end up here? No, I’m not originally from the Snoqualmie Valley. My journey here has taken a few unexpected turns. I came to the United States as a transfer student at the University of Mississippi. Later, I visited New York City, received a job offer from a bank, and ended up building a career in the corporate world after law school.
Along the way, I got married, moved to Boston for my husband’s job, became a working mom of two, and eventually our family relocated to the Snoqualmie Valley.
Looking back, I’m grateful that life brought us here. I believe it’s one of the best places to raise a family. The combination of a strong community, beautiful natural surroundings, parks, and a supportive local music scene makes it a very special place to call home.
What is Circassian heritage, for readers who may not be familiar with it? How does that heritage shape the way you write or think about music? Circassians are an indigenous people of the Northwest Caucasus, along the northeastern coast of the Black Sea. Following the Russo-Circassian War in the 19th century, much of the Circassian population was forcibly displaced, creating a large global diaspora. Today, more Circassians live outside their ancestral homeland than within it.
That history has had a profound influence on my music. Circassian culture places a strong emphasis on storytelling, singing, dancing, and preserving traditions through oral history. Music has always been a way for our people to pass stories and identity from one generation to the next. I carry that influence into my own songwriting. Elements of Circassian folk music find their way into some of my songs, and the most recent song I wrote, Prayer, is in the Circassian language and draws heavily from traditional Circassian musical motifs.
Why does nostalgia keep pulling you back as a songwriter? Is there a specific memory or era? Nostalgia pulls me back because it connects me to my people, my culture, and the places that shaped me. Through songwriting, I can revisit memories and experiences that might otherwise fade with time.
It’s also part of the healing process. Writing allows me to revisit difficult moments, understand them from a new perspective, and transform them into something meaningful. In that sense, nostalgia isn’t just about looking backward—it’s about making peace with the past so I can continue moving forward.
Why did you want ‘Moms Just Want to Have Fun’ to be upbeat and funny rather than going for the emotional complexity your other work explores? Motherhood can be exhausting, but being able to laugh at the chaos with my mom friends has helped me get through some of the hardest days. I wanted this song to celebrate motherhood rather than focus on how difficult it can be. There are plenty of songs about struggle; I wanted to write one that captures the joy, humor, friendship, and freedom that moms need too.
Where does creativity fit into your daily life as a mom, and how do you protect time for it? Finding time for creativity isn’t easy, but I’ve realized I can’t be my best self if I stop creating. There’s truth in the saying, “Happy mom, happy family.
For a long time, I focused on what I thought I should do—build a career, be productive, take care of everyone else first. Music helped me reconnect with who I am outside of those expectations.
I now treat my creative time with the same respect I would any important commitment. It’s not about escaping my responsibilities; it’s about making room for something that brings purpose and joy to my life.
With two kids, how do you actually find time to write and record music? What does that process look like day-to-day? A lot of juggling—and, as one of my mom friends says, occasional “zoomies.” The biggest change has been treating music as something important rather than something I squeeze in if there’s time left over. My family and I have learned to respect it as a meaningful part of my life. Sometimes I write late at night after everyone is asleep. Other times inspiration strikes in the middle of a busy day, and I have to stop and capture an idea before it disappears. I’ve even gone straight from a kid’s practice to an open mic at Black Dog. It’s not always glamorous, but when something matters to you, you find creative ways to make room for it.
How did you decide who else, if anyone, would be in the video, local moms, kids, or other community members? It was important to me that the video feature real local moms. The women in the video aren’t actors—they’re friends who have supported me through the joys and challenges of motherhood.
They helped me grow as a parent, made me laugh when I needed it most, and reminded me that none of us have to do this alone. In many ways, this song is a thank-you to them.
How did the June 5 shoot in Snoqualmie go? It was wonderful. The forecast called for heavy rain, and we were worried about a few logistical challenges, but everything came together perfectly. We had an incredible time filming, and even though Mount Si was mostly hidden behind clouds, I actually loved the atmosphere. The clouds wrapping around the mountains gave everything a beautiful, almost magical feel that fits the Snoqualmie Valley perfectly.
Why would you consider a local release event or performance here in the Valley? Because this song was inspired by life here. It was inspired by the moms I’ve met in the Snoqualmie Valley, the friendships I’ve built, and the experience of raising a family in this community. It would feel special to celebrate the song with the people who helped inspire it.
What’s next for you, musically or otherwise, after this song and video are out in the world? I’ll continue writing and performing whenever I can, and releasing more of my acoustic songs that I’ve written over the years. I’ve also recently started learning to play guitar, which is new for me and something I’m really enjoying. At the same time, I’m going back to the piano, which I grew up playing but somehow drifted away from over time.
More than anything, I want to keep growing as a songwriter and performer. I also want to model for my kids that it’s never too late to pursue something you love. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can keep growing, learning, and reinventing yourself throughout life. I want my daughter to see that motherhood doesn’t mean putting your dreams away. You can be a devoted mother and still continue discovering new parts of yourself, pursuing your passions, and creating something meaningful. When my kids are a bit older, I hope to be more active in the local music scene here in the Valley, sharing music more regularly at community events and small concerts.
I’ve also been inspired to start Project Unison, where I interview musicians and songwriters from around the world whose music resonates with me or whose work helps bridge cultures. As someone who has lived between cultures myself, I deeply believe in music’s ability to connect people across languages, backgrounds, and borders. The project is still in its early stages, but I’m excited to see where it leads and the connections it creates.
“Moms Want to Have Fun” is available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms. You can also follow Venus Moons on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, where the official music video is now available.
From performing traditional Circassian dances as a child to writing songs inspired by life in the Snoqualmie Valley, Zhanna’s journey has taken many unexpected turns. Through it all, one thing has remained the same: using music to tell stories that are deeply personal while creating connections with the people who hear them.
[Photo Credit: Grace + Light Studios/Tatiana Meyer. Special Thanks: Zhanna extends her gratitude to everyone who helped bring “Moms Want to Have Fun” to life, including friends Juliet Dierks, Emily Du, and Elissette Smith; music engineer and producer John Ferro; videographer and editor Mark Lamprecht; GlambyNiha for hair and makeup; and Farmhouse Market in Fall City for allowing filming in the store. She also thanks local business Bird and Bear Designs for the blue earrings featured in the video.]
