If you’re looking for an Actual Future Superstar on this year’s Hype List, you could do worse than fix your gaze on Bree Runway. Dropping a year of stellar bangers, she’s even teamed up with a living legend (MISSY BLOODY ELLIOTT!) – and she’s only just getting started. Next year, she’s out to change the game.
Words: Abigail Firth.
Bree Runway has IT. Whatever IT is – the X factor, the star quality, whatever – she’s got it. She kicked off 2020 with single ‘APESHIT’ and has gone from strength to strength ever since, dropping stan worthy bangers and visuals to match all year long.
One-upping herself every time, each release has been bigger and wowier than the last, all leading up the release of her ‘2000AND4EVA’ mixtape in November. She’s had a stellar year, boasting collaborations with Rina Sawayama, Rico Nasty, Maliibu Miitch, Yung Baby Tate, and most recently… MISSY ELLIOTT; a full circle moment for Bree, considering she’d long been inspired by the legend and has been compared to Missy countless times.
Bree also pulls inspiration from Lady Gaga, Grace Jones, Lil Kim, and more, making her basically everything you’d want in a pop star, and spits those references back out with her own stamp on them. She slides right in with the new pop crop – probably somewhere in between Rina and Rico actually – with her early 2000s flair, fearless aura, pending fashion icon status, and a vision that’ll take her stratospheric, you’d be a fool not to jump on this train.
It takes us a while to track Bree down because she is SO. BUSY. but we manage to catch her while she preps for something that’s likely to be another iconic shoot/video/performance. Hold tight, the Runway takeover is COMING.
Hi Bree! How are you and what are you up to?
Hi! Currently in glam getting ready to shoot something really amazing, can’t tell you yet.
So – end of year time – how’s 2020 been treating you?
2020 has been beating my ass, that’s the best way to describe it. I feel like I’ve been fighting through pandemic after pandemic, from BLM being at the forefront, to corona this and that. It’s been a lot to handle. I’ve had to fight for inspiration, for creativity and for sanity all whilst making sure I stick to my promise to myself of consistently releasing art. It’s been A LOT.
Your new mixtape just came out, what can you tell us about it?
It’s pretty explosive from the moment you press play, I wanted to give the people life and an escape, and a burst of life. It’s very much that throughout.
Obviously THE Missy Elliott features on the single ATM – how did that come about?
Ahhh not over it, never will be! Well, we’ve already had a previous interaction when the internet went into a frenzy over me apparently being like her lil daughter when I dropped ‘APESHIT’. Fans were begging for an ‘APESHIT’ remix from her, but it didn’t happen, but I remember literally saying to myself, me and her will make a song THIS year… I dropped ‘GUCCI’, and I was literally about to sleep and received a call from my A&R and it was to tell me that Missy wants to do a record with me, safe to say I didn’t end up sleeping that night.
“I wanted to give the people life and an escape”
Bree Runway
You’ve got a major selection of features on this release, is there anyone else you’d like to work with in the future?
Hmmm, I’d love to work with Young Thug, Grimes, Lady Gaga, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, my list is endless really.
How do you feel this project compares to your last EP?
I feel like this project is more honest, and lets you into my mind more.
The track ‘4 Nicole Thea & Baby Reign’ is a bit of a change of pace for you – was that a hard song to write?
It was a very hard song for me to write, that’s why it’s so short. I never in a million years thought I’d lose Nicole in that way, it’s really hard to talk about, still struggling to understand it.
You’ve described the songs as ‘all different girls’ – if the tracks were real people, which one would be your bestie?
I think ‘ATM’ would be my best friend. She’s got the right idea, she’s teaching the girls they deserve the world, they deserve to be showered with GOODS, they are worth it.
You’re fast becoming a cult fave like Rina Sawayama and Charli XCX, so, do you have a name for your fans yet?!
The Runwayz.
How do you feel you’ve grown or changed as an artist this year?
I feel like I’m much more resilient, my perseverance game is serious right now. 2020 has strapped me up with so many lessons, and I’ve overcome so much, and put out some great work regardless of how the year has dealt with us. I feel like I can conquer anything now.
What’s been your highlight of 2020?
This Missy feature!
What have been some of your favourite releases from other artists this year?
Tame Impala’s new album is GREAT.
You’ve said before that the plan for 2020 was just to be as consistent as possible – is that the vibe for 2021 too?
100% I’m about to change the game and up the levels even more.
Is there anything left this year from you for us to look forward to?
The ‘ATM’ music video! It’s soooo fire.
Taken from the December 2020 / January 2021 issue of Dork, out now.
