Sammy Paul speaks to TenEighty about the music video for dodie’s new single, Monster.
The Monster music video premiered on dodie‘s YouTube channel on 21 January and has since garnered over 300,000 views at the time of publication. It is the third single from her Human EP.
Sammy Paul has played a hand in the creation of dodie’s music videos since the release of her 2016 single Sick of Losing Soulmates. Serving as producer for the Monster video shoot, he shares with TenEighty the experience of working with director PJ Liguori and fellow producer Sophie Newton:
“I’d always wanted to work with [PJ]. I’d worked with Sophie before a few times on a few different bits and bobs, and I’ve been in some of their stuff. It was really exciting from the ground up to be working on it, from conception to post-production. So, yeah, it was a dream; they’re so easy to work with. They’ve got this very innocent, pure excitement to make stuff and it’s very contagious. It makes you excited for it.”
The music video stars Daniel J. Layton as the main character and features numerous YouTuber cameos, including Bertie Gilbert, Hannah Snow and Dottie James.
Sammy wanted the music video to reflect PJ’s style, similar to how If I’m Being Honest showcased Dominic Fera‘s and Human, Hazel Hayes‘, saying: “We wanted something very much in PJ’s style and it lends itself to feeling like [his] style, but like a dodie song. So it’s a nice combo of talent.”
this was so interesting also
PJ put 4000% into this project and it shows
he’s AWESOME and I’m so so lucky to have had him work on this – he and his team are truly perfectwatch his cool behind the scenes vid here!! https://t.co/Pk8ksEeDL7
— dodie (@doddleoddle) January 21, 2019
As with dodie’s previous music video, Monster is unlike its predecessors. As Sammy shares, this is something he is conscious of when it comes to the production process:
“Our kind of ethos is we want each one to be as different to the last as we can, in terms of production value, visuals [and] tone. It’s just nice to vary it up and have each one really stand out on its own merit, so, to that end, it’s a very different process from one to the next.”
He goes on to explain how, while he’ll offer up ideas, it’s ultimately up to the directors to choose which direction the music videos take: “I’m gonna throw a load of suggestions at the wall and you pick which ones you like. If there’s a thing that sparks a little idea in you, it’s yours. If there’s anything that I suggest that isn’t super up your street, then leave it.”
While serving as director and producer for dodie’s music videos, Sammy has continued to work on writing short films. When asked what he enjoys most about working on music videos, he shares it’s the amount that can be done in a short amount of time:
“If you work on a short, that’s six months of your life dedicated to one thing. What’s quite nice about music videos is that there’s a quick turn around time, so it’s like you get to work on more things over that same kind of extended period.”
This is an excellent music video, let down by a deeply weak lead performance by an actor who is ugly on the inside.https://t.co/X4OLmvnkYP
— Daniel J. Layton (@DanielJLayton) January 21, 2019
Human was released on 18 January and within hours of its release reached number one on the iTunes UK album chart. Those wishing to purchase the EP can do so via iTunes, while those wishing to stream it can do so through Spotify.
Want More?
Read our cover interview with dodie, where she opened up about her music and YouTube career. Alternatively, you could read about Daniel Howell raising over £28,000 for mental health charity, Young Minds.
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