‘Follow the Toad’ is a track that could be considered almost ethereal; one that transports the listeners to an Arabian desert, if we’re talking about just EDM artist PIA’s mystical vocals. Coming to the video, a creation as fantastical as the name esoteric, the Abhay Deol starer directed by filmmaker Joe Sill takes one on an adventure into a never-before-seen world. In an exclusive interview with the minds that brought to life the audio-visual masterpiece, we decode the fantastical universe of ‘Follow the Toad’.
“There are layers to ‘Follow the Toad,’ and truly, the fun lies in the imagination of the listener. There’s a magical whimsicality to a toad. Following a toad… for me, it’s about pursuing that curiosity which leads you deep within the rabbit hole, through the darkness, towards an eventual surrender, ultimately guiding you to a healing future,” PIA shared with us. And rightly so, the music video is every bit a magical journey. Featuring larger-than-life setups, the video can be likened to if the world of ‘Dune’ and ‘The Hobbit’ were to have a lovechild. For actor Abhay Deol, who stars in the music video, it wasn’t just another addition to his range of offbeat roles but also a project that was filled with the nostalgia of childhood fantasies. “Just like every other kid, I was always drawn to fantasy. It started early. Of course, the first few films I watched were my uncle’s and my brothers’. And then, ‘Wizard of Oz’, ‘Star Wars’, and the original ‘Blade Runner’ were some of the first foreign films that left their mark on me. They were beautifully fantastical and otherworldly. Shooting for ‘Follow the Toad’ brought back memories of being a child and watching science-fiction movies. I wish we could make more of those in our cinema here as well.” the actor smiled.
Abhay Deol, Pia and Joe Sill on the creation of their single, ‘Follow the Toad’
The visual spectacle is truly awe-inspiring, but we first spotlight the transcendent vocal range of PIA layered over the upbeat guitar plucking that is the core of the track. “Since the song was created before the video, the music entirely informed the visuals. For me, this inherently makes the song laden with a mystical, invisible power. I could see it and feel it, and I feel so grateful to have worked with Joe, whose incredible ability to translate my vision and sound to screen brought it all to life. There are no lyrics to ‘Follow the Toad,’ but the vocals are almost a chant-like, feral, warrior cry that evokes a calling from another realm – a call for aid, reclamation of power, and help from beyond present time and space. The production of the music is thanks to the genius Anymize who seamlessly blended various instruments, beats, and effects, and together we were able to produce an energizing and thrilling audio experience,” shared the artist.
While Indian influences are prevalent in the track, courtesy of PIA’s primary education in Hindustani Classical Music, it is the Arabian-ness of it all that takes centre stage. “With ‘Follow the Toad,’ it wasn’t a specific Raaga or scale Anymize and I were trying to follow, or Indian classical music specifically. We also were inspired by Arabic music and its scales, which similarly convey a variety of deep emotions. We tried to feel what clicked, which I feel is part of getting lost in the world of the song. We started with the “Alaap” in the beginning and then from there began experimenting with different taans throughout the song.”
The music video is a visual treat, that transports the audience to a world inspired by ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘Indiana Jones’, and other classics ; filled with monsters, PIA pirouetting in a white Cleopatra-esque dress and a magical sword among other such fantastical elements. The project was shot in a single day by the international director Joe Sill using a small stage and a 30 X 12 LED wall, to bring alive the futuristic video while showcasing the possibilities of film without big budgets. “Working together with PIA, we crafted a visual bible that fostered a unique fantastical world, referencing hundreds of photographs from both real-world landscapes as well as fictional concept artwork imagery that would help illustrate a vast, alien Desert that harbours an Ancient City carved into the mountainside, hosting an underground Temple that reaches far beneath the surface to depths we can’t even fathom. Then, to bring this world to life, we utilized Unreal Engine to build stunning virtual environments that we would then project on an LED volume stage, where the actors would perform and be captured within,” the film maker shared with us.
At the crux of the video lies PIA’s love of films and video games that come together in an amalgamation of visual references. “With “Follow the Toad,” the location harbours within an other-worldly realm, drawing inspiration from Martian landscapes, Iceland, Wadi Rum, and Angkor Wat, for example. The location of the opening sequence of the traveller in the Desert is up to the viewer’s imagination – could it be the world of Indiana Jones? Is it Petra? Is it the planet of Arrakis from ‘Dune’? The rest of the universe within the short film is heavily inspired by games I’ve loved such as the ‘Zelda’ and ‘Dark Souls’ series and the brilliant cut-scenes from ‘Diablo‘ and also from films such as ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Harry Potter’. The endless dungeons, caverns, and abandoned ruins, relics of bygone eras ruled by great kings and gods, hold mysteries and secrets that I wanted the characters to explore and experience,” PIA elaborated.
The presence of Bollywood actor Abhay Deol in the music video adds a layer of charm to the global collaboration. “I have heard PIA sing before, and I think she is talented. I hadn’t seen Joe’s work before I did the video. But I met him; he took me to his studio, and then I saw some of his stuff, and I was blown away! So, for me, it was an adventure – something new, something different to do. I was in LA at the time, and it was a chance for me to co-create with these two amazing artists – it doesn’t matter if it’s not a film or a show. I did it for the fun, the spirit of collaboration, and like I said earlier, for the love of music. Unreal Engine is something I’d been curious about for a while, and Joe is kind of a master at it. It was an opportunity for me to work with him and also see how this technology works. ‘Star Wars’ uses the same technology but on a bigger scale. Overall, it was a great learning experience for me whilst collaborating with artists,” he shared with us, talking about the harmonious creation of ‘Follow the Toad’.
Hero and Feature images: Courtesy Abhay Deol and PIA.
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