Acclaimed singer-songwriter Barbie Almalbis has released the music video for her latest single, “All U Wanna Do.”
The striking visual piece was shot guerilla-style at the iconic Shibuya Crossing, capturing Almalbis’ impassioned performance amid a bustling city life in Tokyo, Japan.
Singing with only her earphones as accompaniment, Almalbis stands in stark contrast to the rush of strangers around her, transforming a fleeting moment into a deeply personal expression of frustration, resilience, and artistry.
Directed and conceptualized by celebrated photographer and filmmaker Niña Sandejas, the project emerged from an impromptu creative adventure during Almalbis’ travels in Japan, where she’s invited to perform.
“It wasn’t an original idea—every day, tourists record themselves in that famous scramble—but this shoot was something else entirely,” Sandejas explains. “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.”
Joining Sandejas and Almalbis on the road was a tight-knit team: Rachael Roldan, who handled hair and makeup and assisted in lighting, and Martin Honasan, Barbie’s husband, who helped with crowd management. Ysmael Salvador, editor of the video, took Niña’s chaotic handheld footage and tied it into a cohesive and magnetic narrative. Salvador has previously worked with Almalbis on the visuals of her songs “Platonic” and “Needy.”
“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,” Nina adds. “It felt right to bring that spirit full circle, folding memory into the present.”
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.”