Multi-talented performer Nora Fatehi joins forces with international pop star Jason Derulo to create "Snake," a breakout dance track that blends Eastern and Western influences.
Born from Fatehi's creative vision and brought to Derulo via producer Tommy Brown, the track showcases both artists' versatility while pushing genre boundaries. "Some collaborations can feel a little empowering, and this one felt like...a hot knife cutting through butter," Derulo explained. “It feels like this is right up my alley.”
For Fathi, the process is more complicated. “I was trying to figure out how to bring three different cultures into one project and make it global,” she said. “We wanted a hook that was repeatable and very easy to remember.”
The accompanying music video, directed by Moroccan director Abderrafia El Abdioui and choreographed by Indian director Rajit Dev, is set in the heart-stopping setting of Marrakech Amazing scenery as background shot. The production, overseen by Fatehi, brought together an international team working 15 to 16 hours a day to realize their ambitious vision. "We created a futuristic Morocco in the visuals," said Fathi. Despite the production challenges, she embraced the process: "I loved that sense of panic and anxiety, because I knew that at the same time, something amazing was going to happen."
The collaboration took both artists into new creative territories, particularly in dance sequences. "When I arrived in Morocco, Nora wanted to do some moves that I had never done before, which was a little weird because I had done everything," said Derulo, who brings with him an extensive background in dance, including Hip-hop, tap, ballet and jazz join the program.
The choreography is a fusion of belly dance and Bollywood influences. Fathi praised Derulo for his willingness to embrace different cultural elements. "He actually embraced the culture... He wore Moroccan jalabiyas and kurtas by very famous designer Manish Malhotra. He was really involved in it."
Fathi, who was born in Toronto and now lives in India, sees Snake as a pivotal step in her international career. "I am now going straight from Bollywood to an international career, which is really hard for a Bollywood actor to do," she points out. With 46.7 million Instagram followers, 4.4 million TikTok fans, 4 million YouTube subscribers and 470,000 monthly Spotify listeners, Fatehi brings a large global audience to the partnership. The response from fans has been overwhelming, prompting Fathi to recall comments on social media such as "We never knew we needed a collaboration like this."
For Derulo, who has an impressive social media presence with 66 million TikTok followers, 35 million Instagram followers, 40.3 million YouTube subscribers, and 30 million monthly Spotify listeners, the project represents a carefully crafted The return of music video production. "I think music videos are dying in this day and age, especially where I'm from in the United States, people don't take music videos seriously anymore," he said. "I hope this means a new beginning for artists, 'Okay, this is still possible.'"
Fatehi echoes this sentiment about keeping production values high: "If you have a platform, you have fans, you have music, you can dance, you have all the necessary elements to be a global artist. You should take advantage of it Your advantage."
"Snake" marks a major milestone for both artists, with Derulo currently hosting the TikTok Live Awards in the UK and Fatehi preparing to release a solo album in the coming months, which features Britney Spears Spears' "Toxic" sample.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q_k8JuqyV0[/embed]