Friqtao Invites Listeners to ‘Run Away’ With Stirring Debut Single
Friqtao
In a world of endless noise and distraction, Friqtao offers a moment of stillness. The Paris-born, UK-based pianist, already a viral sensation thanks to his impromptu performances in train stations, has officially stepped into the recording world with his debut single, ‘Run Away’, a hauntingly beautiful introduction to his forthcoming EP.
Best known for transforming public spaces into concert halls, Friqtao has captured the imagination of millions – 3.7M TikTok followers, to be exact – with his reimagined versions of pop and hip-hop tracks performed on public pianos. But with ‘Run Away’, he delivers something entirely his own: a meditative composition that blends classical precision with raw emotion.
To mark the release, Friqtao played his first-ever live show at Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston on September 10. Tickets sold out in just 45 seconds. He followed that up with a performance at Silencio in Paris on September 11. His live shows echo the spirit of his music: stripped-back, intimate, and immersive.
Accompanying the new release is a cinematic music video, directed by Justin Kaminuma, set against the relentless backdrop of New York City. Amidst the towering brutalist architecture and the hum of urban life, Friqtao sits quietly at a lone piano, lost in his playing. The visual contrast is striking, the quiet introspection of his music unfolding in the middle of chaos, mirroring the very essence of ‘Run Away’.
As he prepares to unveil more music throughout the year, Friqtao is emerging not just as a pianist, but as an artist reimagining the role of piano in modern music.