Hurray for the Riff Raff has unveiled the music video for “Living in the City” a song that reminds me of Lou Reed’s Sweet Jane – with an Americana mixer. The vibrant video was filmed in New York City and brings to life the story of ‘The Navigator,’ which Alynda Segarra crafted around a character named Navita, a wandering soul and street kid at a crossroads of identity and ancestral weight. In the video, Navita (played by Segarra), is joined by her crew The Mariposas, a tight unit that weaves through the streets and dance on a rooftop as the sun sets behind them.
“I wanted Giselle Bailey to direct ‘Living in the City’ because I am a fan of her work and I knew she understood that I wanted to represent the New York City I grew up with. Women taking over public space and making room for ourselves in a society where we are so often threatened into hiding. I learned at a young age that survival in the city for me meant having a crew. Together we could move through the concrete maze and create some sense of freedom.” – Alynda Segarra
The song is from the recently released full-length ‘The Navigator’ (ATO Records). The 12 original songs on ‘The Navigator’ were inspired by Alynda Segarra’s own journey growing up in New York, from the Bronx to finding the downtown punk scene and beyond. She was inspired by poetry, Puerto Rican activist groups the Young Lords and the Ghetto Brothers, Fania Records and more.
Hurray For The Riff Raff also returns to the UK in October, including a date at London’s Koko on 17th October. Slow Dancer will open at all shows; full dates are as follows:
Hurray For The Riff Raff UK Dates
Oct 17 – Koko – London
Oct 18 – Arts Club – Liverpool
Oct 19 – Whelans – Dublin
Oct 21 – Saint Luke’s – Glasgow
Oct 22 – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham
Oct 23 – Trinity Centre – Bristol
Oct 25 – Wedgewood Rooms – Southsea