“Over the last few years Akiko Haruna has emerged as a unique talent, shaping a background in experimental choreography and audiovisual art into a holistic practice within which production, composition, vocal performance and movement run into and inform each other… Skewing towards exploratory club pop, the project sees Haruna chasing the electronic eroticism suggested at in their previous projects, placing frenetic dance floor experiments side-by-side vocal tracks in the lineage of SOPHIE and PC Music. The most evocative – and most singular – of these is ‘Yakusoku,’ in which Haruna’s sensual vocals drift through the murky thrum and cold fizz of their production, lending a melancholy, erotic charge to an intricate volley of percussive throb and pulsing bass alchemy.” – FACT Magazine
‘Yakusoku’ appears on Be Little Me, the debut EP by Akiko Haruna on Numbers. The video is directed by Jade Ang Jackman of Babes with Blades, edited by Georgie Daley and produced by Emilie Bruyere, with styling and creative supervision by An Nguyen, make-up by David Gillers, costume design by Tara Hakin, and additional styling and jewellery by Guia Bertorello. Commissioned by Ashley Mak. Poster by Théo Marielle
→ Watch ‘Yakusoku’ on FACT
→ Visit akikoharuna.com
Director Jade Ang Jackman on ‘Yakusoku’
“As a director, I love working with movement and creative practitioners who want to extend their storytelling further via their own bodies. As a trained experimental dancer, producer and singer, Akiko becomes the embodiment of her unique sound and style. For us, at Babes with Blades, that is part of what our studio is about and it was brilliant to collaborate with an artist who takes ownership of various modes of her own expression and her British Asian heritage”.
Complete Credits
Director – Jade Ang Jackman / Studio – Babes with Blades / Director of Photography – Thomas English / Gaffer – Will Stuetz / Focus Puller – Sarah Tehranian / Lighting Assistant – Elise Dadourian / Producer – Emilie Bruyere / Production Assistant – Moyinoluwa Saka / Production Studio – Eden Creative / Editor – Georgie Daley / Colourist – Thierry Phung / Additional Production – Drew O’Neill / Additional Director of Photography – Laura Seward / Runner – Mbalu Kamara / Styling & Creative Supervision – An Nguyen / Make-Up – David Gillers / Costume Design – Tara Hakin / Styling & Jewellery – Guia Bertorello / BTS Photography – KT Allen / Video Commissioned – Ashley Mak
Follow Akiko – Instagram / Bandcamp
