Multi-hyphenate performer Nora Fatehi has joined forces with international hitmaker Jason Derulo for “Snake,” a boundary-pushing dance anthem that blends Eastern and Western influences.
The track, which originated from Fatehi’s creative vision and was brought to Derulo through producer Tommy Brown, showcases both artists’ versatility while pushing genre boundaries. “Some collaborations can feel a little forces whereas this one felt like…a hot knife through butter,” Derulo explains. “It felt like it was right up my alley.”
For Fatehi, the process was more intricate. “I was trying to figure out how to mix three different cultures into one project and to make it global,” she says. “We wanted a hook that repeats itself, very easy to memorize.”
The accompanying music video, helmed by Moroccan director Abderrafia El Abdioui, and choreographed by India’s Rajit Dev, was filmed against the backdrop of Marrakesh’s striking landscapes. The production, which Fatehi also produced, brought together an international crew working 15-16 hour days to realize their ambitious vision. “We created a futuristic Morocco in the visuals,” Fatehi says. Despite the production challenges, she embraced the process: “I love the panic, the anxiety, because I know that with anxiety, something amazing is about to happen.”
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The collaboration pushed both artists into new creative territory, particularly in the dance sequences. “When I got to Morocco, Nora wanted to do some moves that I had never done before, which is kind of weird, because I’ve done everything,” says Derulo, who brings his extensive dance background spanning hip-hop, tap, ballet and jazz to the project.
The choreography incorporates belly dance and Bollywood influences. Fatehi praised Derulo’s willingness to embrace different cultural elements. “He actually embraced the culture… he wore the Moroccan jalabiyas and a very famous designer, Manish Malhotra’s kurta. He was really in it.”
The Toronto-born, India-based Fatehi views “Snake” as a crucial step in her international career trajectory. “I’m venturing into an international career right now, coming straight off of Bollywood, which is really difficult for Bollywood actors to do,” she notes. With 46.7 million Instagram followers, 4.4 million on TikTok, and 4 million YouTube subscribers, along with 470,000 monthly Spotify listeners, Fatehi brings a substantial global audience to the collaboration. Fan reaction has already been enthusiastic, prompting Fatehi to recall social media comments like “The collab we never knew we needed.”
For Derulo, who commands an impressive social media presence with 66 million TikTok followers, 35 million Instagram followers, and 40.3 million YouTube subscribers, along with 30 million monthly Spotify listeners, the project represents a return to elaborate music video production. “I think in this day and age, music videos are dead, and especially where I’m from, in America, people aren’t putting any emphasis on music videos,” he says. “I hope this will signify a new beginning for artists to be like, ‘Okay, this is still possible.’”
Fatehi echoes this sentiment about maintaining high production values: “If you have the platform, you have the fans, you have the music, you’re able to dance, you have all the necessary elements to be a global artist. You should use that to your advantage.”
“Snake” marks a significant milestone for both artists, with Derulo currently hosting the TikTok Live Awards in the U.K. and Fatehi preparing for a solo release featuring a sample of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” in the coming months.