Obsession: Behind the Music, the Madness and the Friendship
Two best friends, one dangerously catchy song, a straitjacket and a music video that might just leave you obsessed.
There's something rather amusing about watching two people argue over who gets to eat the last biscuit, especially when neither of them actually wants to take it.
On the other side of my screen, director, songwriter, actor Paul L Jane and singer, actress Katrina K Ross are sitting together, sharing a packet of biscuits while we talk about their latest project, Obsession. Between the laughter, the constant teasing and the occasional attempt to decide who should answer a question first, one thing becomes very clear: these two know each other exceptionally well. They've been best friends since 2016, and apparently, that includes knowing when to argue and when to leave the last biscuit for the other person.
It's all rather wholesome, considering we're here to discuss a music video about obsession, complicated relationships and a woman in a straitjacket.
And here's where things get a little more interesting.
I happen to be in that music video. Yes, interviewing the director and lead actress of a project you've actually worked on is a rather unusual experience. Particularly when one of them is also your acting coach and you've already spent part of the filming process lying on the floor pretending to be a fish but we'll get to that.
Meet the People Behind the Madness
Getting these two to introduce themselves is an adventure in itself. Before either of them can explain who they are, there's already a playful disagreement over who should go first. And considering how the rest of our conversation unfolds, I probably should have taken that as a warning.
Paul eventually introduces himself as one of the directors at WorldRevivalist.com, a film and music media company. But that's only the beginning: He's also a producer, songwriter, musician, actor and director, not to mention the man behind FILM FACTA, an accredited London-based film acting academy he's been running for 16 years. Quite a few job titles for one person, I know. Although, beneath all those professional responsibilities, he admits there's still a "big kid" who simply loves playing bass guitar, making movies and creating music.
Katrina K Ross, or Kat, has followed a creative journey of her own. From dancing and musical theatre to modelling, singing, cinematography and acting, she's explored just about every corner of the performing arts. But it was film acting that truly captured her heart. After joining film FACTA in 2016, she fell in love with the possibility of bringing different characters to life and making audiences experience emotions through them. She eventually became one of the academy's acting coaches herself.
And somewhere along the way, a rather unexpected friendship was born.
Paul and Katrina have been best friends since 2016, a connection that has grown through years of working together, sharing creative ambitions and, apparently, developing an impressive ability to tolerate each other's nonsense. Paul jokes that Katrina might be the only person willing to put up with his occasionally outrageous ideas, but beneath the humour, there's a genuine appreciation for someone who has stood by him through the good and the difficult times.
Their friendship has also become a creative partnership, bringing them together in music and film, including Obsession, a song and music video connected to a wider series of fictionalised stories in which they play dramatic versions of themselves.
Because apparently, being yourselves isn't complicated enough. Why not add a little drama, horror and chaos to the mix?
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When Love Becomes Obsession
So, what exactly is Obsession about? Well, as it turns out, love isn't always as romantic as the movies would have us believe. Sometimes, what begins with butterflies in your stomach ends with a few red flags you probably should have noticed earlier.
The inspiration for the song came from the film Obsession (2025) directed by Curry Barker, which, according to Paul, "blew me away." Clearly, it left quite an impression. Drawing from his own experiences with relationships, he began exploring that unsettling moment when the person you thought you knew starts revealing a completely different side of themselves. At the beginning, everyone is on their best behaviour; everything feels exciting, almost perfect. But slowly, the cracks begin to show, and the charming personality you fell for might not be quite what it seemed.
Of course, getting Paul and Katrina to explain the meaning behind the song comes with another round of negotiations.
"You or me?" Paul asks.
"You. You wrote it, so you answer first," Katrina replies.
And after sharing his rather complicated experiences with obsession, Paul casually suggests that Katrina will probably offer the safer interpretation.
Well, not exactly.
For Katrina, the song explores another side of obsession: the kind you don't necessarily realise you're developing yourself. She describes becoming so attached to the idea of someone that, even when the warning signs begin to appear, you keep holding on to the person you believed they were. And somewhere between loving someone and trying to make the relationship work, you can end up losing yourself entirely.
"I've found myself in quite a few relationships, I've lost myself inside that relationship, and as I come out, I find myself again," she explains.
It's a rather frightening thought, isn't it? That sometimes the most dangerous part of obsession isn't simply what someone else might do to you, but how much of yourself you might be willing to give away without even noticing.
And despite approaching the song from different perspectives, there's one thing they eventually agree on. After a surprisingly lengthy debate over their favourite lyric, they both settle on the same line: "I'll follow you like weather follows sun."
Romantic? Perhaps. Slightly concerning when you remember the title of the song? Absolutely.
And speaking of the music itself, I should probably issue a warning. I performed in the music video over a month ago as a supporting actress and during one particular scene, I had to sing along to the chorus. Somehow, that was all it took. Weeks later, I still catch myself singing it around the house, completely uninvited.
So, if you listen to Obsession and suddenly find yourself humming it while making breakfast, don't say I didn't warn you. I've been dealing with this for weeks.
The Music Video
Now, remember when I mentioned pretending to be a fish? Well, allow me to explain.
Picture this: you've arrived on the set of a music video, ready to act, and one of the first things your director asks you to do is lie on the floor and pretend to be an animal. No particular choreography, no elaborate instructions, just complete creative freedom. And somehow, I decided that a fish was the way to go. A fish. On the floor. In a music video about obsession. Naturally.
But what initially seemed like a rather unusual acting exercise turned into something much more interesting. Throughout the filming, I noticed Paul carefully watching our performances, occasionally spotting a movement or expression he wanted to develop further. When I ask him about it, he recalls experimenting with the contrast between actors remaining completely still and others moving almost uncontrollably, allowing their individual performances to shape the visual atmosphere of the video. "I just loved watching you guys perform," he tells me. And honestly, there's something wonderful about watching a director find inspiration in the unexpected.
Of course, the video has its darker moments. Set in a fictional psychiatric institution, Obsession features Katrina wearing a straitjacket, a costume that turned out to be considerably more restrictive than she had anticipated. I actually tried it on myself during filming, and let me tell you, there's something deeply uncomfortable about suddenly losing the ability to move your arms freely.
Katrina, meanwhile, discovered that even her hands were completely covered. Not particularly convenient when you're someone who likes helping with everything happening on set. "I want to be hands-on, and I literally couldn't be," she jokes.
Naturally, I had to ask what the most difficult part of spending an entire day in a straitjacket would be. The conversation quickly descended into laughter, questionable suggestions and a surprisingly serious discussion about the practical difficulties of everyday life. Katrina even raised the rather tragic possibility of not being able to enjoy a hot chocolate.
But beneath the jokes, her answer became unexpectedly thoughtful. For someone who values her independence, she explains, the hardest part would be having to rely on other people for even the simplest things, from eating to moving her hair. It's a small reminder of how much we take our freedom of movement for granted.
And because apparently the filming hadn't already provided enough surprises, Katrina's brother unexpectedly arrived on set and ended up becoming a character in the music video himself. When I ask whether performing in front of him felt awkward, particularly given her rather revealing costume, she takes it in her stride. Years of acting and modelling have taught her to separate herself from the character, even when a family member happens to be watching.
Between unexpected cast members, creative improvisation and an unusually memorable costume, Obsession was certainly an interesting experience to be part of. And if there's one thing I learned from those filming days, it's that sometimes the most memorable moments are the ones nobody could have planned.
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A Friendship Worth Singing About
After spending most of our conversation discussing obsession, complicated relationships and the occasional questionable decision made in the name of love, I decide it's time for something a little different. And what better way to test a friendship than asking two best friends to describe each other using a movie title?
Katrina doesn't take long to suggest The Godfather for Paul, a choice he seems particularly delighted with. "Amazing, I feel awesome!" he exclaims. Paul, however, has a rather different film in mind for his best friend.
The Shining.
Yes, as in The Shining. Naturally, we all burst into laughter. I'll leave you to decide what that says about their friendship.
But when I ask them to choose a song that represents the other person, the answers take a surprisingly heartfelt turn. Katrina picks "You've Got a Friend in Me", while Paul chooses "I Never Could Say Goodbye".
"Because she's always been there for me," he explains.
And somehow, after all the teasing, the laughter and the occasional disagreement over who gets to answer a question first, that simple explanation says more about their friendship than any elaborate declaration could.
Before we say goodbye, Paul shares one final thought. Looking back at his journey through music, acting and filmmaking, he believes that none of the time he spent exploring different creative paths was ever wasted. Every experience, every mistake and every unexpected turn helped bring him to where he is today. And for anyone wondering whether it's too late to pursue their dreams, he has a piece of advice:
"Dare to dream. Make mistakes. Live it. Breathe it. And then one day you wake up and realise you're quite good at it."
It's a lovely thought to end our conversation on. After all, Obsession is a project born from years of creativity, personal experiences and a friendship that has survived plenty of disagreements along the way.
And as I close my laptop, I can't help thinking about that last biscuit neither of them wanted to take. Perhaps that's the thing about a good friendship: sometimes, even when you're both determined to have the last word, you're just as determined to leave the last biscuit for the other person.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a certain song stuck in my head. Again.
