The New York scene has seen the rise of the pop duo in recent years with MGNA Crrrta’s dizzying trance cuts, Club Eat’s slapstick electropop, and now, Somewhere Special. A project of producer Bruno Zero and writer/vocalist Simone Alysia, Somewhere Special’s music is fast, fuzzy and bright like a blinking neon sign.

Their often chaotic, ethereal sonics has garnered the duo a fanbase of neon-hued dancers and Bushwick pop savants. Equally as notable as their pedal-to-the-metal music is their visual language, which sits somewhere between a chic house party and a floating afterlife. Colorful, deconstructed and always surprising, the duo are two spotlit stars straight from the Ana Bolina-verse.

Today, PAPER is proud to premiere the video for their new song, “Secret,” a steamy spiral into the center of Zero and Alysia’s minds. “Kiss me I’m your drug/ I’ve got a secret on the tip of your tongue,” Alysia begins, her voice breathy as she regards the camera in a full black leather number. The video features the duo’s close friends and collaborators as the camera jets between the rusty interior of a car mechanic shop and a dreary expanse of concrete and road. Filled with looks, choreo and cool glances, the video is another chapter in Somewhere Special’s ongoing storym which is long, suspenseful and full of secrets.

PAPER spoke with the duo in the lead-up to “Secret’s” premiere to chat about their inspirations, Lady Gaga and making art with friends.

Somewhere Special only came together last year. Since starting, you’ve really dived into the scene. What’s the last year of creating and performing been like for you both?

Simone Alysia: It’s been fun. We’ve made a lot of friends along the way.

How has your creative process changed since you started releasing music and building a community around your work?

Simone: In the beginning, we were making tracks super fast in Bruno’s room for fun and mixing it at our friend’s crib. We both made our own music, and this was a sort of passion project — and then it stuck.

Bruno Zero: I think the biggest change for me was transitioning from making trap music to making electro-pop. I used to make music in my house with rappers from my high school, and now I only really work with Simone.

The video for “Secret” brings together so many creatives from throughout NYC. Tell me about putting this group together and what shooting the video was like?

Simone: Putting this creative group together was easy because it’s all my friends and friends of friends. Everyone was down, which made directing this music video so fun. I’ve actually known a lot of the girls in the video since I was in high school, and I’ve known Ivy Vodka, who also edited the video since the womb. I met Mia Manning, our producer, a year or two ago at various parties, and she brought her friend Leander Capuozzo (who works with Anna Bolina) to DP. He really understood the world we were creating and his eye is so sick.

We worked with a gorgeous HMU and wardrobe team, with Murphy Penn, my friend of seven years, as head stylist. My friends Gabby, Tazha and Kayla worked with me on the choreography. We shot it all over the course of one long ass day, and It was definitely as fun as it looks. I have so much love and gratitude for all of these people. Big thanks to Alon, Shahnti, Henry, Robin Frank, Eric and Emcee Studios!

You have a strong style and visual language, which can be seen in the music videos for “Secret” and “Undercover Lover.” Who are some of your big influences in your visual world?

Bruno: I’m mainly inspired by things I see in my daily life that break my neck. I’m also a big fan of Todd Hido.

Simone: As a 2000s baby, I was inspired by Beyoncé and Lady Gaga’s “Telephone,” Kelis’s “Milkshake” and Cassie’s “Me & U” for “Secret.” I’m also inspired by the culture that surrounds me. The visual language is just an extension of how our group of friends moves through the world and the evolution of our personal styles. We all feed off of and inspire each other creatively.

Jasmine Johnson directed the “Undercover Lover” music video in Los Angeles. Jasmine’s references were Jon Rafman’s “9 Eyes,” Tommy Malekoff’s “Night Suns / Desire Lines,” and early Sofia Coppola for the field portion of the video. The goal was to situate Somewhere Special within a new context that felt familiar yet somewhat intangible with a dreamlike quality.

Similarly, your sound is so distinct and weaves in both the past and future of pop, techno and electroclash. Who are the musicians and artists who inspire you?

Bruno: I take inspiration from several different artists that I’ve loved during different times in my life. Tristam and Braken, Gorillaz, MGMT, anything on Trap Nation, MexikoDro, M83 and Duwap Kaine are a few key inspirations that I can name off the top of my head.

Simone: Gaga!

Photography: Leander Cappouzo, Wally