Inspired by dubstep, early-aughts nostalgia, and each other, Abby Manos and Spencer Hawk are crafting a heartfelt electronic universe, one track at a time. Right now, its Tequila Cran, turned up loud for Elephant by Jo Rosenthal.
Abby Manos and Spencer Hawk are a New York duo whose work, music, and lives intertwine seamlessly. The couple met on Halloween through a mutual friend, Claire, aka Ruby Bell, and have been inseparable since. Early in their relationship, they bonded over Sonic Adventure 2 being the best Sonic game, and now they share laughter, musical style and fashion sense, among many other things.
While collaboration can be challenging for many couples, Manos and Hawk have never struggled as creative partners. As their relationship deepens, they continue to find inspiration in the world around them and within each other. They share a love for nostalgia and early aughts culture and always hold hands as they weave through the madness that is NYC.
Creatively, Manos and Hawk move in sync. What began as Manos searching for the ideal producer for her dubstep-leaning lyrics soon became a track the duo made together that all of their friends can’t stop dancing to. Building on this collaboration, Hawk, well-versed in bass and sound design, has always gravitated toward producing for vocalists, and Manos’ voice was the missing piece.
Their shared taste in music and art makes alignment natural; they speak the same musical language, but subtle differences in their styles add more texture. Manos’ lyrical instinct blends with Hawk’s production expertise, creating a process that feels more like dialogue than compromise.
Beyond the studio, their harmony deepens into something quieter and more intimate. Manos describes a rare sense of understanding between them – a feeling of being truly seen and known, unlike anything she’s ever experienced. She admires Hawk’s gentleness with her and others. Hawk, in turn, is inspired by Manos’ kindness and patience, especially when they struggle to access that same softness within themself. Their relationship, much like their music, is caring, fun, and undeniably sweet to watch.
Manos and Hawk have deep individual histories in music, but their creative energy together is at the heart of their story. While Manos is known for her NYC electronic productions and expressive style, and Hawk brings experience from projects like Gupi and Food House, their partnership brings these strengths together into a shared vision that defines the duo’s work.
Alongside their individual projects, the duo’s collaboration shines bright in their new track Tequila Cran. This song exemplifies their partnership, blending their talents and relationship into a vibrant, dynamic project that’s distinctly their own.
Manos draws on influences from Crystal Castles, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Skrillex, and 2000s Tove Lo: sources that shape the duo’s sound and the sound within her own musical project. Her visuals nod to Chloë Sevigny and early-Disney-era Miley Cyrus.
Hawk gravitates toward boundary-pushing artists like SOPHIE, A. G. Cook, and SpongeBob SquareWave, and draws inspiration for fashion from Kazuki Takahashi and Emile Fortune.
These complementary influences from both partners feed into the duo’s energetic, cohesive aesthetic and sound and the couple bonds over a shared world of hyperpop and graphic nostalgia.
But how did they come up with their latest song and video? They made Tequila Cran in just three hours. Manos already had the lyrics prepared while Hawk put the beat together. They captured every vocal in one take and had their friend Maria Galebach direct the video. Manos and Hawk edited the entire video together and completed each other’s thoughts over laughter, late nights, and lots of hugging. Manos notes that Hawk perfectly aligned all the cuts to the beats and added VFX. Hawk was impressed by how quickly Manos got everything together and how well it all worked out. The couple shares mutual admiration for each other for how they were able to finish the project so quickly and effortlessly.
As for their lives in NYC, Manos thinks the city needs more committed relationships. Because Hawk only recently moved here, he’s still trying to figure out what the city needs that they can further bring to it. Both their hopes for the future include a lot more music in the concept they call “victory dubstep royale,” inspired by playing Fortnite, playing around with an MIKU synth, and releasing an album next year of electronic pop and dubstep vibes. Hawk is loving where the journey has brought them and can’t wait to share what they’ve been working on as a duo and as separate but equally amazing people.
If the couple weren’t living in NYC, they’d dip their toes in California, which is Hawk’s home state. It’s always felt like home, but the balance of East Coast/West Coast lifestyles is quite different.
When the two are asked about their mottos, Manos answers with “YOLO.” For her, life is about taking chances, making memories, and saying yes to the moments that make your heart race. Hawk stands by the Golden Rule, believing that kindness and integrity are what truly anchor a person. They admit that a little YOLO energy keeps things exciting as well.
Together, their mottos feel like a perfect reflection of their love story. Manos brings the fearless fun, Hawk brings the grounding warmth, and somewhere in the middle they create something beautifully balanced. It’s an adventure wrapped in tenderness that is softened by devotion, and it suits them both perfectly.
