After surprising fans with his story-driven conceptual single “The Other Side,” Bangkok-born singer-songwriter Phum Viphurit goes even deeper into the world of his alter ego, Paul Vibhavadi, with “Balter Baby,” the second single from his upcoming EP PAUL VIBHAVADI VOL. 1. Released to streaming platforms on October 9, 2024, this dance-oriented piece is Phum’s first instrumental-only track, showcasing another side of his musical tastes and capabilities. An animated music video for “Balter Baby,” created by Shea Oracheski and James Bedggood based on Phum’s concept, will also debut on his official YouTube channel.
In terms of narrative, “Balter Baby” picks up just before where “The Other Side” left off, with the lovable sloth Paul Vibhavadi grappling with his newfound adulation among a sloth-worshipping tribe he stumbled upon during his journey in search of the magical forest of Himmapan. “I wanted to expand on a part of the previous music video when it shows the tribe worshipping him, almost like an Ari Aster, Midsommar-type dance,” says Phum. “So it’s showing Paul in a trance, reflecting what he felt in that dance sequence.”
Intriguingly, Phum opted to convey this chapter of Paul’s story via an instrumental track with no vocals, once again pushing the boundaries of his music in the process. “I’ve done instrumental-heavy music, but always with glimpses of my voice. This one’s purely for people to dance to,” says Phum. “Honestly, if you go through the last fifty of my liked Spotify songs, I would say 45 of them are instrumental. When I’m looking for inspiration, I try to write lyrics over pre-existing instrumentals, and I wanted to deconstruct that method by thinking, ‘What if I can capture someone’s attention or move their head along to this three-minute house track that’s guitar-based with some synths?’ It was an interesting challenge that also fits within the theme of the story.”
Regarding the specific influences for “Balter Baby,” Phum says, “I listened to a lot of Modjo, a dance group from the 2000s. I also enjoyed a lot of Seventies Motown, funk, and disco. But most of it was led by the visual, because I directed the ‘The Other Side’ music video and was heavily involved in the animation process for the ‘Balter Baby’ video. I was thinking of Paul’s story and what particular soundtrack would suit this scene.” Indeed, the music of “Balter Baby” perfectly complements the video, immersing us in Paul’s mind as he grooves along like a retro dance video game character.
Choosing “Balter Baby” as a single further emphasizes the boldness of Phum Viphurit’s exploration on the PAUL VIBHAVADI VOL. 1 EP while making sense within the context of the project. “I felt like introducing a new house-inspired song like ‘The Other Side’ needed a bit of a continuation before I broke from that tempo and texture, so ‘Balter Baby’ was the most natural selection for me,” he says. “It’s like, ‘Hey, it’s not just a one-off thing.’ I’m playing with the idea of trance, movement, and motifs throughout the whole EP.”
The end of the “Balter Baby” video sees Paul Vibhavadi enclosed in a glowing orb as he floats away from the tribe, leaving the audience free to draw their own conclusions—or look for more answers when PAUL VIBHAVADI VOL. 1 drops on October 17. “I know it’s quite a conceptual piece of work, and there will be many different interpretations of it,” says Phum. “But I’m so excited to showcase my creativity and make people feel something again with this next piece of work.”
