F  L  A  U  N  T

Blackpaw’s beat comes out the gate pulsating like a smoke soaked dream of pinks and blues. The clean plucky guitars surf the synth melody in this modern take of new wave. Blackpaw, self-produced, plays every instrument with a tongue in cheek attitude that sets the tone for a little humor against a dark world.  [Ariel Beesley](https://buzzbands.la/2019/10/01/video-premiere-ariel-beesley-palm-springs/) and Blackpaw have immediate chemistry as he whispers in her ear “I’m a holy fool for you”. As the tensions between the two rise throughout the video, this campy performance turns a love story into a horror sketch. Beesley transforms the narrative as she morphs into a psycho killer, violently stabbing Blackpaw with a leopard stiletto. The video ends with splattered blood all over Beesley as she seductively licks the thick red blood from her fragile fingers. Alexandria Hilfiger catches up with the two about their chemistry, and collaboration.  **_AH: Blackpaw, This song is sexy and cheeky, is this song about someone?_**  **B:** Ha, yeah, it’s actually about Ariel. For a moment we were smitten and we erased the world together. We then found it healthier to be friends.  It’s been a few years, and our friendship has changed and grown stronger. I asked her to be in the video because I knew she would kill it (literally ha), and what better person to be in the video than the woman who inspired it all?  Ariel is talented in many dimensions. We support each other creatively, and she loved the idea. She also recently started a non-profit for sexual assault survivors called U Start Here. It seemed to all fit effortlessly together.  **_AH: Ariel, how did you feel about the song when you first heard it and being asked to be the female lead?_**  **AB:** Well, to be frank, it was my favorite song of Adrian's right away. Now, whether I’m biased or not... but I absolutely loved it on first listen. Quite honestly I was honored to be in the video because I think it’s a very special song. Not only because it’s just a damn good tune, but because Adrian wrote it about our relationship, and that in itself, even if there are some brutal lines, is truly special to me. I will always cherish that time we had and I’m very grateful that we have maintained such a close friendship. Plus, cmon, I get to kill him.  **_AH: Blackpaw, how long ago was your relationship with Ariel and did this reignite any romantic feelings?_** **B:** We dated for a short period in 2018. In short, no...On set we were all business. I valued her input on set and we had a lot of fun with it. We shot a few things that we didn’t plan, and it worked out really well.  **_AH: Ariel, when did you start your non-profit, and what inspired it?_ AB:**  Thank you for asking! I officially launched U Start Here this past September! But it’s been a long time coming. The inspiration came out of my own sexual assault and journey towards healing, which is not linear by any means. I wanted to create a place for survivors to go to for comfort and help, as well as a place for allies to go for education. Together, we fuckin got this shit.  **_AH: What was the inspiration and process in developing this video?_** **B:** My love for 80s/90s horror and thriller films. I grew up with these films, but it was recently revived by my friend Dakota who has a great cinematic project called [Dakota Blue](https://linktr.ee/dakotablue).  I wrote this treatment last year but wasn’t able to fulfill it due to scheduling and covid. [Harrison Bliss](https://harrisonbliss.com/) is an up and coming DP/Cinematographer who reached out to me to work on a video. I wanted to direct it, but I felt it was a lot to undertake, so Harrison stepped in to co-direct and absolutely blew me away with his thoroughness. We really made an incredible team.  **_AH: Blackpaw, what is your message as an artist?_** **B**: I make art that supports art. Expressing my personal experience is at the root, but having fun is key. Each song/ep is different, but I’ll use this song as an example to give the scope. I wanted to celebrate my experience with Ariel. I wanted to empower the true experience despite it not working out in the long run. The details are minuscule when it comes to life being so short. Cherish it.  Written By Alexandria Hilfiger Credits  Written : Blackpaw Starring : Ariel Beesley and Blackpaw Directors : Blackpaw & Harrison Bliss Director of Photography : Harrison Bliss 1st AD : Ilayda Cetinkaya Gaffer : Darren Rubin Art PA : Lisa Garcia Board operator : Gabe Trujillo Set design/Grip/drum consultant : Brian Marquez Hair: Sofia Vandagriff