“It wasn’t an original idea—every day, tourists record themselves in that famous scramble—but this shoot was something else entirely. Barbie sang full voice with only her earphones as a backing track, while strangers brushed past, stared, or bumped into her. The rain gave us only a brief pause to work, and we had a hard stop because she was headed straight to a gig that night. A few takes, a lot of faith, and a camera chasing her through the rush: that was all we had. Behind the lens, what struck me most wasn’t the crowd or the noise, but Barbie’s composure. Her dedication to bring to life each of her songs, giving the same devotion to a pop-up shoot on a rainy Tokyo street as she would to a stage. As a nod to Barbie’s history, we layered in an echo from Hungry Young Poets’ song ‘Runaway’ where the sound of traffic and voices in Japanese that once opened the track. It felt right to bring that spirit full circle, folding memory into the present.” ~Niña Sandejas, Directed and Conceptualized by Celebrated Photographer and Filmmaker
Shot guerilla-style near the iconic Shibuya Crossing, this striking visual piece recorded Almalbis' passionate performance in the heart of Tokyo, Japan's bustling city.
As Almalbis sings with only her headphones for accompaniment, she stands out from the commotion of those around her, transforming a fleeting moment into a highly individualized expression of frustration, strength, and inventiveness.
While Almalbis was touring in Japan and getting offers to perform there, an impromptu artistic trip led to the project, which was directed and conceptualized by famous photographer and filmmaker Niña Sandejas.
A close-knit group of people accompanied Sandejas and Almalbis on the road: Barbie's husband Martin Honasan helped with crowd control, while Rachael Roldan handled hair and cosmetics and aided with lighting. The video's editor, Ysmael Salvador, took Niña's disorganized handheld footage and turned it into a compelling story. Salvador and Almalbis had previously collaborated on the music videos for her songs "Platonic" and "Needy."
Reflecting on the collaboration, Almalbis praised Sandejas instinctive artistry:
“Niña really is a natural, and I love seeing how she almost simply reacts to her surroundings instinctively. I think she has spent a long time mastering that art.” ~Barbie Almalbis, Acclaimed Singer-Songwriter
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