Izzraimy & Gabrielle Teach Me How-To LDR
I chatted with them separately
If you follow Izzraimy or Gabrielle on Instagram, you’ll know they’re dating because they post a ton of content about their long-distance relationship. I chatted with them (with Gabrielle over Instagram DM) to find out how they make it work, separately; which means they’ll be reading each others’ responses here for the first time!
While at the Island Boys’ studio (which they share with Tell Your Children), I also took the liberty to chat with Izzraimy about why they decided to drop “Collective” from their name. Read our first chat here.
Dating.
G: We flirted privately when we were friends but we never took each other seriously. There was a .Wav(y) night where he introduced me to his brother for the first time and he said “You like my brother right” and in my head I was thinking to myself “I didn’t even know you had a brother. I like you dummy!”
I: I didn’t know she liked me, she didn’t know I liked her. Dated 4 months online, when she came back to Singapore for holiday I asked her to be my girlfriend.
G: It’s secure, comfortable, and exciting. It’s so funny because when Izz and I were at the flirting stage, he swore he’d never do LDR because he could never picture it going well. One year after that conversation, here we are.
I: We’ve only seen each other 2 months in the last year. But I feel close to her; we sync movies on Netflix Party and watch them at the same time.
When she’s here I literally can’t let go of her.
Online dating.
G: Technology plays a huge role to our relationship (when we’re apart, at least). We eat, go on dates, go to sleep together on FaceTime. As much as I hate to admit we’re the epitome of a millennial relationship with all the technology involved, Izz is a creative — the digital diary and my birthday surprise video he made were so innovative.
I: When I’m shooting (for work) I’m on FaceTime. My airpods are plugged in, phone in pocket.
I don’t hear how casual or serious a text sounds. Sometimes I have to clarify for reassurance. A sentence in a full stop can make me overthink, keep asking; because I keep asking, we argue.
G: People think you can’t do much in an LDR because you’re not physically together. I guess that’s true if you don’t care enough to put in the effort because there’re so many ways to show that you love someone.
“Instagram official”.
I: I want her to become a TikTok star. *laughs*
G: I don’t think we’re an Instagram couple because we don’t really post pictures together. He uses Instagram mostly for his business and I use mine for myself. I imagine an “Instagram couple” to be partners who have a joint account that documents everything about their relationship. That’s not us — we’re just a couple on Instagram who post each other occasionally. *laughs*
I: Drew this slideshow for our first monthsary; people DM’ed me saying because of this post they fought with their girlfriends because they think they’re doing enough for them. Once when she was back a staff at Pizza Hut started screaming at us because she recognised us. I do social media for us, but am happy if people find it cute or inspiring.
G: If there’s one thing this relationship is, it’s pressure-free. I guess it really is a pretty public relationship but we’re so secure that we’re in this only for each other that we couldn’t be bothered about anything else.
Something only you would understand about LDRs.
G: Your life shouldn’t exist solely because of your relationship. You are your own person with your own personal goals; your partner has theirs. A common goal is a future together but you have to live your youth and achieve your own goals first. I think people in (successful) LDRs are masters at understanding that.
Why do you like/love each other?
G: I love him for his heart. Only the people who truly knows Izz knows that he’s the most generous and humble person. He’s a man. I know he’s someone who I can grow with and together we’ll do something great. And of course, for his good looks.
I: She’s gorgeous, highkey funny but lowkey doesn’t know it, ridiculously smart: straight A’s, scholar, Dean’s List, President’s List, last week she was sick and didn’t know there was an exam this week; she took the exam and got 100%. She wants to help everyone.
“Island Boys”.
“Collective” sounds like work. We wanted to become a brand more than a team of workers.
Must creatives be public to be successful today?
Social media is such a big platform but it doesn’t guarantee success. Brands seem to be targeting micro-influencers more nowadays. It’s a dilemma for our team whether to go for every single event or be selective.
