C’batch
In this interview, C’batch takes us behind “Next Time,” exploring heartbreak, rediscovering love, the energetic remix, and the heartfelt story behind its accompanying animated video.
1. “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling/You’ve Got Me Falling)” carries a powerful contrast between protecting yourself from heartbreak and unexpectedly falling in love again. What inspired this story, and how personal is it to you?
The song began with the music rather than a specific story or personal experience. As the harmony and melody developed, certain phrases and ideas began to emerge naturally, including “Next Time” and “I Won’t Be Falling”. Those phrases eventually became the foundation for the lyrical concept.
From there, I imagined a person who had been hurt before and was determined not to make the same mistake again. However, despite that determination, they find themselves drawn back into the same emotional situation. I liked the idea of that contradiction—the mind saying, “Don’t do this again,” while the heart is saying something completely different. The line, “But You’ve Got Me Falling In Love Again,” really captures that conflict.
So, while the song deals with emotions that are very relatable, the story itself isn’t based on a particular personal relationship. It simply evolved from the music and the emotional situation that the music suggested to me.
2. The new remix transforms the original song into an energetic blend of soulful vocals, house rhythms, and electronic production. What made you want to revisit the song in this particular dance-oriented style?
I think a lot of my music comes from a dance-oriented style, so quite naturally, the song lent itself perfectly to that approach. In fact, the original, unpublished version was already a moderate- to mid-tempo Soul/R&B dance composition.
3. There is an uplifting quality to the track despite its roots in heartbreak and healing. How did you balance the emotional depth of the lyrics with the joyful, feel-good energy of the remix?
Well, I think the uplifting quality goes hand in hand with the ultimate resolution of the song, which, to some extent, can be interpreted as healing. “You’ve got me falling in love again,” despite whatever may have transpired earlier in the relationship, suggests that love has ultimately overcome the hurt.
4. When working on the remix, were there any specific sounds, artists, dance styles, or musical influences that helped shape the production and overall atmosphere?
No, there weren’t any specific sounds, artists, dance styles, or musical influences that helped shape the production and overall atmosphere. As a matter of fact, the remix is essentially an alternate version of the song that I previously released earlier this year. I thought this version would work well and would be a better fit for the creation of the video we planned to release.
5. The song is described as a soundtrack for summer playlists, parties, road trips, and dance floors. What do you hope listeners feel or experience when they hear it in those settings?
I just hope that listeners enjoy the track wherever and whenever they hear it, regardless of the venue or setting they find themselves in.
6. The official music video is also being released alongside the remix. What can you tell us about the visual concept, and how does it complement the story of finding joy and love after heartbreak?
Again, to be clear, the song was not inspired by any personal relationship that I may have had.
For the overall story and visual concept, I thought it would be nice to depict the idea that, even though there may be struggles or “hiccups” in a relationship, true love can ultimately conquer all. At the end of the animated video, you see two photos of an actual couple—my wife and I—who are represented in the video, once very young and now much older, but still very much in love and still together.