The Band Explains: teepee - 'Around It'
teepee talk to us about the thought-provoking visuals for moving single ‘Around It’ which celebrates diversity and being different in a rigid world.
Where was the video for 'Around It' filmed?
It was filmed in Prague in a nature reserve called Prokopské údolí. The indoor scenes are from a film studios called Hexar.
How does the video connect with the song?
The song is about being different in a rigid world. In a world that doesn’t make compromises and If you don’t fit within the majority you are an outsider. It was important for us to show the contrast between the struggle to fit in and a complete freedom and confidence that you can have If you let yourself to be yourself. So when the creative team Baobab (they filmed the video) came up with the idea, that people could be following ropes as a metaphor of the hunt for your true self, we said yes, that was what we are looking for.
Do you have any behind the scenes stories you could share with us?
Quite a lot. We had only one day of shooting and unfortunately that was the rainiest day in March. We weren’t prepared for that at all. So saving the camera while litres of water were pouring on our heads was kinda stressful. Also cleaning my car after the whole crew brought there kilograms of mud was fun. But it was a lot of fun, all the cast and crew got along and that was important.
Can you tell us about the ideas/ themes/ imagery used?
As we mentioned before. It’s a song for the outsiders. The lyrics: “I never really thought about it. I always found my way around it, but I am someone I could hold on“ are about always trying to conform instead of finding our own way. So the rope metaphor is important. Through the song we are all struggling to get through the world. We are all trying to follow the norms, we are all dressed the same with same faces. We are following colourful ropes that is symbolise the hope that we all have. The hope that maybe somewhere in the distance is a better world. At the end we find it, we all get into the little teepee, which is a gate to another dimension. Where you can be yourself, where no one is judging you, where all the colours come up and you can dance freely. The weird dancing is a metaphor of complete freedom.
What do you hope people take away from watching the video?
As we mentioned before. Its a song for the outsiders. We hope that the song together with the video will empower people who feel “small“ in this big world. It’s a song for anyone who was ever criticised or judged for who they are, who they love or how they look. We should celebrate diversity and learn from each other instead of trying to fit everyone in a box and than label it as good or bad, nothing in between. The world is not black and white its multicoloured.
Interview feature by Karla Harris