Cover photo by Marcus Maddox / Words by Willa Rudolph
New York’s own Abifrail is announcing her first big single drop for “Runnin x2,” which is a sensual computer game summertime vibe. “The song is inspired by Sonic The Hedgehog,” explains Abby Manos (a.k.a. Abifrail). “I wanted to capture a push and pull dynamic between me and ‘Sonic,” to draw a metaphor about situationships and how you can never fully ‘catch’ the person.” Abby’s melancholy lyrics stand out against the background of the dreamy and upbeat pop tune.
The music video, directed and DP’d by Aria Cabello and edited by Abby Manos, features some of New York City’s DIY scene’s faves, Sofia Zarzuela (of Veronica), Allyson Camitta (of Shallowhalo), and Maraya Imogen (of itg.url), among others, and was co-shot (B-Camera) by Maria Galebach (of Gun). The group of girls play and frolic in and around a kiddie pool, which happens to be in Prospect Park, and Abby added graphic animations inspired by Sonic Adventure 2. “It was my first time making animations, and I feel like it added to the fun game-like element of the song.”
Recording in collaboration with Devon Oritz-Goldberg, who helped produce and create the beat, using samples from the game, he and Abby played the game on Wii while their phones recorded voice memos, picking up sound samples from the “chao garden“, coins being collected, and Sonic jumping.
The song feels like a sweet lollipop in your mouth while playing a video game with a crush. You keep looking over at them, but they’re so engrossed in the game, you think they’ve forgotten you’re there. It’s youthful and playful, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
The director, Aria, tells The Deli about the video, “I was definitely inspired by Harmony Korine and Sofia Coppola, because the women in their movies command attention in less than ideal circumstances, which is what the song is all about. I loved the idea of making Abby a diy pop star princess.”
Aria was also inspired by Riff Raff’s video for “midnight sprite”, putting the “video girls” in there to hype Abby up in sexy little bikinis made by swimwear designer Patricia Torvalds. “After a chance encounter with her in a FiDi coffee shop, she offered to make a couple of custom suits for the video! Angelina Hazzouri helped put together the looks using ‘bimbo in limbo’ necklaces by bimbi mafia. It was really important for me to showcase local designers and talent because it creates a really natural chemistry.”
Stay updated on Abifrail’s playful and delightfully indie-electro universe here.
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