Joji Koyama aka Woof Wan Bau's first video in ages is for the first official single by the charismatic Barbara Panther - a combination of animation, live action and inspired model-making.

The singer's irrepressible performance is always central but Joji also employs a number of techniques to to evoke the lyrics, combining a mixture of epic-looking miniature models of classical figures and everyday objects, inventively cast from sugar, salt and baking powder in order to easily break down, suggesting the fragile nature of manmade empires. The models were shot to look lifesize, alongside plaster casts of lifesize limbs that were used to scrape graphic patterns on the floor.

"I started making music videos for friends, so these days the idea of making a video for someone I feel a sense of affinity to is quite important for me," says Joji. "With Barbara there was a slight coincidence that her record is produced by Matthew Herbert (who I've collaborated with) so even though I didn't know her it all felt quite close.

"Usually I would avoid doing performance videos but Barbara is such an incredible performer that I wanted to try and keep the focus very much on her. We gathered a small team of friends and a super enthusiastic crew and had a really fun shoot. I think Barbara's enthusiasm rubbed off on everyone."

Watch 'Barbara Panther’s Empire by Woof Wan-Bau' here

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