After surprising fans with the story-driven single “The Other Side,” Bangkok-born singer-songwriter Phum Viphurit delves even deeper into the world of his alter ego, Paul Vibhavadi, with his latest release, “Balter Baby.” The track, the second single from his upcoming EP PAUL VIBHAVADI VOL. 1, dropped on streaming platforms on October 9, 2024. This dance-oriented, instrumental track marks a new direction for Phum, showcasing a side of his musical range that fans have yet to experience. Alongside the release, an animated music video created by Shea Oracheski and James Bedggood, based on Phum’s concept, premiered on his official YouTube channel.
Narratively, “Balter Baby” picks up where “The Other Side” left off, following the journey of Paul Vibhavadi, a lovable sloth who has found himself worshipped by a sloth-loving tribe during his search for the mythical forest of Himmapan. “I wanted to expand on a scene from the last video, where the tribe is worshipping him in an almost Midsommar-like dance,” Phum explains. “This song captures what Paul was feeling during that trance-like dance sequence.”
Uniquely, Phum decided to tell this chapter of Paul’s story through a purely instrumental track, a departure from his usual vocal-heavy style. “I’ve made instrumental music before, but always with snippets of my voice. This time, it’s purely meant for people to dance,” Phum shares. “Honestly, if you look at the last fifty songs I liked on Spotify, most of them are instrumentals. I wanted to challenge myself to create a piece that could grab people’s attention without lyrics—a guitar-based house track with some synths to keep heads nodding. It fit perfectly with the story I wanted to tell.”
Phum’s influences for “Balter Baby” include the 2000s dance group Modjo, as well as Seventies Motown, funk, and disco. However, much of the inspiration came from the visual aspect of the project. Having directed the music video for “The Other Side” and heavily contributing to the animation of “Balter Baby,” Phum explains, “I was constantly thinking about Paul’s story and what kind of soundtrack would fit this specific scene.”
“Balter Baby” emphasizes Phum’s bold musical exploration on PAUL VIBHAVADI VOL. 1, serving as a natural progression from the house-inspired sound of “The Other Side.” “I felt like, after introducing that sound, ‘Balter Baby’ was a continuation before moving away from that tempo and texture,” Phum says. “It’s part of the theme—trance, movement, and motifs—that run through the whole EP.”
The music video concludes with Paul Vibhavadi floating away from the tribe in a glowing orb, leaving viewers to interpret the next chapter on their own—or await more answers when PAUL VIBHAVADI VOL. 1 is released on October 17. “It’s a conceptual piece of work, and there will be many interpretations,” Phum adds. “But I’m excited to share my creativity and make people feel something with this next chapter.”
