TOY

In 2014, I had the opportunity to collaborate with TOY, a band known for their hypnotic blend of psychedelic rock and krautrock influences. Their music, characterised by swirling guitars, ambient synths, and driving rhythms, had already gained a dedicated following, and their second album, Join the Dots, showcased their ability to craft immersive, transportive soundscapes.

Our partnership began when Heavenly Recordings reached out to me with an exciting proposal: to create a promotional video for "As We Turn," one of the standout tracks from Join the Dots. The song’s hazy, dreamlike quality and steady, pulsing energy made it a compelling candidate for a visually driven accompaniment. The label and the band had a strong creative vision for the project and were keen to explore bold and unconventional ideas that would complement the track’s hypnotic nature.

With a generous budget to support our ambitions, the project presented a unique opportunity to experiment with visual techniques that echoed the band’s influences. TOY’s aesthetic drew from a deep well of avant-garde and psychedelic traditions, and they were eager to incorporate elements from early experimental cinema into the video. This emphasis on artistic exploration and a shared passion for pushing creative boundaries made the collaboration an inspiring and rewarding experience, setting the stage for a thrilling exploration of experimental visuals and music.

2014 - As We Turn

All Aboard the Carousel

The video was shot at Tower Bridge Studios, a space that provided the perfect environment for our ambitious visual experimentation. Its adaptable setting allowed us to create the precise lighting and projection effects needed to achieve the desired atmosphere. The spacious and versatile nature of the studio gave us the freedom to experiment with different setups, ensuring that each shot contributed to the surreal and immersive aesthetic we aimed to capture.

Drawing inspiration from avant-garde cinema and early animation techniques, we crafted a visually immersive experience that echoed the ethereal and dreamlike quality of TOY’s sound. The band’s references included Mary Ellen Bute’s pioneering colour film, Synchromy No.4 ‘Escape’ (1938), as well as mesmerising footage by John Whitney. These influences set the tone for a piece that aimed to push visual boundaries while complementing the sonic depth of "As We Turn."

To bring this vision to life, I enlisted the expertise of lighting directors Antonio Curcetti and Alexandra Stone, whose meticulous approach helped shape the video’s dynamic interplay of light and shadow. Another striking visual element came from the use of chromotropes—19th-century kaleidoscopic slides that, when wound up, create mesmerising patterns in motion. The idea to incorporate these came from the band’s appreciation for vintage optical techniques and their ability to evoke a hypnotic, otherworldly effect.

Additionally, Henri-Georges Clouzot’s unfinished film L’Enfer served as another key influence, inspiring our use of vivid colours, filters, and striking optical effects. To achieve this, Antonio constructed a custom colour wheel using an old bicycle wheel fitted with coloured gels. We filmed portrait shots of each member of the band with the coloured light passing over their faces, casting shifting, abstract patterns and creating a sense of movement even in stillness. The effect added an eerie, hallucinatory quality, enhancing the band’s spectral presence within the video.

Beyond lighting and colour experimentation, we also explored layered visual distortions and subtle overlays, reinforcing the idea of perpetual motion and transformation. The synergy of these elements—light, movement, and colour—allowed us to create a hypnotic and immersive aesthetic that seamlessly blended with the song’s swirling instrumentation and dreamy vocals.

The result was a surreal and entrancing visual accompaniment to TOY’s music, capturing both the nostalgic and futuristic elements of their sound. It was a pleasure working with the band that day—true professionals through and through. A big thanks to Maxim Barron (bass, vocals), Tom Dougall (guitar, vocals), Dominic O'Dair (guitar), Alejandra Diez (synthesiser), and Charlie Salvidge (drums, vocals) for their dedication and creative energy throughout the process.