Many Paths to Love (or Whatever) :: Tom Goss on 'Click'

Out singer-songwriter Tom Goss makes fun, playful, and sometimes starkly beautiful music videos. Now he's come up with something new: An interactive video that allows the viewer to assume the first-person vantage of a friend being introduced to various people at a party.

The song pauses at various decision points to allow the viewer to select one of several options. Chat up the cute boy -- or the pretty girl? Go on a date with hunky Ricky -- or bail in order to go chat up the steamy fellow across the room? As in life, the choices lead the viewer to new possibilities. Better than life is the fun of going back to try different paths to love, romance, or... well, whatever. A lot of whatever, actually, since there are literally millions of different combinations in which it's possible to progress through the video.

The video just posted today and Goss was busy promoting the brand new cutting edge work, but EDGE borrowed a moment of his time for a quick chat.

EDGE: I have heard of interactive films, but not an interactive music video. Where'd the idea of 'CLICK' come from?

Tom Goss: I don't know! I've been kicking around the idea for a couple years but didn't quite have it figured out. It wasn't until Michael Serrato (the director) shifted the focus to first person that the video really started taking shape. Of course there was the whole problem of 'the technology doesn't exist to make it possible' still, but in a stroke of luck YouTube release its new 'End Card' system just as we raised funds for production via Kickstarter. So we got to work, creating a world where you were in charge of your own love story, just like real life!

EDGE: What was it like to have to chart out all the different possible relationship choices and then film them? I bet you needed some kind of complicated score card.

Tom Goss: Um, yeah, it was horrible. Michael spent a lot of time thinking, arranging and re-arranging. The pre-production and planning on this video was unlike anything we had done before. The schedule and shot list had to be so precise and exact. Still, like always, everything blew up and we had to figure it out how to piece it all together on the fly.

EDGE: Who worked out all the different possible paths and choices? Was that you and director Michael Serrato?

Tom Goss: Yes, you can see the matrix above. Things shifted a little after we shot and edited but it mostly stayed the same. The matrix planning alone took weeks. Once we had the 'map,' everything became much clearer. Not easier, but definitely clearer.

EDGE: Did you have a chance to build a little personal fantasy into the video? I mean, did you include your own choice(s)?

Tom Goss: Of course. I mean, we work together on every aspect of the video, so there's nobody in this video that I wasn't drawn to. Personally, I've spent countless hours planning, shooting, editing, watching and re-watching this video and to be honest, every one of these people I would go on a date with.

Honestly, I found myself attracted to these people in ways I wouldn't have expected. I want to get to know them, date them and have sex with them. The men and the women.

I think that's what's so great about this video, it really transcends race, gender and sexual orientation, focusing on what makes each individual beautiful, what makes them shine. I'm really proud of what we've done in that regard.

EDGE: I'm guessing that the way the song unfolds is the same no matter who you click on -- did you write the song with these different permutations in mind?

Tom Goss: Actually, that's not true. There are three different versions of the song. The song you hear depends on who you follow. Furthermore, if you slide laterally or backwards you are, in effect, re-arranging the flow of the song. So I guess you can hear the song millions of different ways as well. I never thought of that!

EDGE: Is 'CLICK' the future of music videos?

Tom Goss: Interactive is definitely the future. That might mean something like 'Click' or VR or 360, but at the end of the day, technology is evolving and people are demanding more from their entertainment experience.

All that said, I definitely don't want to have to edit 53 videos at the same time ever again!