
British-Punjabi musical disruptor Raf-Saperra's infectious pop track Step Out has inspired a suitably vibrant visual by directing duo Amir Hussein and Soren Harrison - aka Bedroom - and Avleen Kaur that playfully crosses cultural borders.Reflecting his contemporary take on South Asian music that blends western music styles with traditional Punjabi singing, it's an intoxicating mix of East and West in one colourful and cartoon-like package. Raf pops into the beauty salon to celebrate the girls (of all ages) as they prepare for a big night out. Then he becomes the model in a fashion magazine wearing some outlandish clothes, but charming his fellow model - the girl from the salon. He's also the guy in the magazine ad for Fatboy breakfast cereal, before becoming a boxer in the ring and appearing at his press conference, where his favourite girl turns up as his interviewer. For Amir Hussein, one half of the Bedroom project, this was an important opportunity to articulate the blurred lines between his South Asian and British heritage and what that means to his directorial work. It marks a bucket list moment for the director and stands out as one of the director's strongest videos to date."For me, Step Out was just as much about pushing representation as it was about pushing culture," he says. "Growing up South Asian, you’re often boxed in, caught between tradition and perception. There aren’t many people who look like me breaking into these new spaces or showcasing that we can play in the same field as everyone else."With this video, I wanted to show a more layered identity: bold, modern, unapologetically brown. Something that breaks away from the stereotypes and can stand shoulder to shoulder with the work that’s always inspired me."Soren Harrison adds: "There are boundaries to be pushed in South Asian culture right now and the response we have gotten with the video shows us how important it is to be broadening the cultural limits. We wanted the life and colour of the song to breathe into the visuals and let Raf’s playful performance carry us from one set to the next."
Promonews - 6 days ago