In music theory, “parallel” refers to two scales that begin on the same note and evolve in different directions while remaining in dialogue. The concept mirrors the identity of Parallelle, brothers in music and in life, whose sound draws from jazz, soul, hip hop, funk, and techno.
Photo credit: Parallelle – Website
Known for their eclectic approach, the duo fuse organic instrumentation with electronic production, often incorporating live vocals, analog synthesizers, digital tools, and field recordings gathered through their travels.
Renowned for their live performances and collaborative ethos, Parallelle view music as an ongoing exchange shaped by culture and shared experience. Their latest release, ‘Dreaming Through the Phone’, extends this philosophy into a cinematic format. Shot in Lisbon and inspired by 1970s travel films, the accompanying video translates themes of distance, longing, and connection into a visual narrative.
In this conversation, Parallelle open up about the origins of the project, the logistics behind filming with planes and vintage cars, and the moments that defined the shoot.
EG: Hi Parallelle, welcome to EG. Firstly, how did you come up with the idea for this video?
Parallelle: Thanks for the invite. It all started with a conversation between us (Julien and Thomas) and Timo Burdel (director), on a boat party during Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. Somewhere between the music, the chaos, and the sun, we talked about our new album ’11th Avenue’ and our desire to visually translate one of its tracks, ‘Dreaming Through the Phone’. That simple exchange sparked a wave of inspiration: how to shoot it, where, and with whom.
EG: What were the challenges of making the video? It looks like it was shot in some pretty awesome locations, including a plane?
Parallelle: What we didn’t know yet was that the shoot would require a very talented team and some pretty unexpected, funky logistics. The lyrics open with “On the highway, for you I roam”. So naturally, we needed a car. And not just any car, an old-timer Mercedes felt like the only right choice. Then comes the second verse: “On the airplane, for you I’ve flown.” At that point, we needed a plane.
As luck would have it, Julien and Thomas’ cousin Maathijs is a pilot, and he even had a friend in Lisbon who owns a small private plane. Problem solved. Around the same time, Timo introduced us to Marqi, a beautifully vintage, very Wes Anderson-coded hotel in Lisbon that has the Mercedes car we wanted. Just like that, the scouting was done.
“We were mostly fooling around all day, and we think you can feel that joy and playfulness in the final result”
EG: The Wes Anderson vibe of the video is evident, even in the clothing. Did you have those clothes in your wardrobe, or did you go shopping for the perfect look?
Parallelle: We wanted a strong 70s–80s feel, so Lizzie Favaro (Stylist/Set Design) stepped in with the perfect old-school outfits, bringing exactly the playful nostalgia the film needed. Behind the camera, everything was shaped through the lens and direction of Jose Orpinelli (Director of Photography), with Abner Landim (Assistant Camera), and honestly, also as our unofficial problem-solver.
EG: What problems came up during the shoot?
Parallelle: A drone got stuck in a tree just before sunset, so Abner saved the day, more than once. He climbed up, retrieved it in time, and we managed to capture the final driving shot through the mountains. Then again, the next day, when we realized we’d forgotten the phones in Lisbon, at Lizzie’s place. Abner drove all the way back, only to discover the keys we had were the wrong ones. Not giving up, he climbed onto the terrace and luckily found an open window. Phones retrieved. Shoot saved. Again.
EG: That’s dedication! What memories will you take with you from this shoot?
Parallelle: All in all, it was one of the most fun shoots we’ve ever done. A group of characters, a series of small adventures, and a lot of brotherhood. We were mostly fooling around all day, and we think you can feel that joy and playfulness in the final result.
Parallelle’s ’11th Avenue’ is out now on Folder. Stream and download here.
Follow Parallelle: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
