Diplo Sent Heidi Klum a Song That Gave Her a Vision of Them ‘Riding on Gigantic Fish Through the Sky’ (Exclusive)
- - Diplo Sent Heidi Klum a Song That Gave Her a Vision of Them ‘Riding on Gigantic Fish Through the Sky’ (Exclusive)
Jack IrvinFebruary 14, 2026 at 1:42 AM
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Diplo and Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum/TikTok
Heidi Klum and Diplo's new song "Red Eye" is out now
The high-energy dance track serves as the theme song for season 21 of Germany's Next Topmodel
Klum tells PEOPLE how the song gave her a vision of "riding on gigantic fish through the sky" for a music video
An unexpected new collaboration from Heidi Klum and Diplo has arrived.
The two stars linked up for a high-energy new dance track called "Red Eye," and it serves as the theme song for season 21 of Germany's Next Topmodel, which premiered on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
"Red Eye" marks Klum's latest single featured on the TV show following her cover of Corey Hart's "Sunglasses at Night and "Chai Tea with Heidi" featuring Snoop Dogg. The new song was born from a simple text conversation between the supermodel, 52, and Diplo, 47.
"I just kind of texted him out of the blue," Klum tells PEOPLE. "I'm like, 'You are always working on so many different songs. I'm sure you have some in a drawer somewhere that are not used yet, that need a home. I need a song for my TV show for Germany.' And then he's like, 'Yeah, sure thing.'"
Upon hearing a demo of "Red Eye," Klum was "attracted to the speed" of the beat. "I just thought it was fun, and the hook got me hooked," she says.
The Project Runway host then started thinking about making a music video. "And immediately I saw us kind of riding on gigantic fish through the sky. I was like, I'm seeing us just doing weird things, like flying through space. I'm sitting on the outside of a plane where I'm getting a phone call," she explains.
In the past, Diplo's worked with artists including Madonna, Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber and Beyoncé. While Klum may not be a full-time musician, the DJ sings her praises as a recording artist.
"I feel like people don't know Heidi as a music pop star, but I feel like she could be. She looks like one," he says. "As a producer, you always look at somebody, and it's not just their voice, it's their whole image and what makes the most sense."
A true fan of dance music, Klum knows how to morph into pop star mode upon stepping into the studio — and her voice sounds great on the track. But Diplo says she'd be able to sell "Red Eye" on vibes alone.
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"My first real relationship was with M.I.A., and she always told me she's like 90% attitude, 10% style. And I think Heidi's 100% attitude and style," he notes. "I mean, it's 2026, so I think that is what you need. Everything else is kind of supplementary."
Diplo also enjoyed making the music video, which comes out soon, with Klum. "She made me look really hot, and she's hot, so everybody looks hot when she's around," he explains.
The collaboration comes after years of Diplo and Klum knowing each other. She recalls first meeting him many years ago, but he remembers a specific instance where they really clicked.
Heidi Klum and Diplo
Heidi Klum/TikTok
"Man, I think I met Heidi, I was sleeping under a blanket with my girlfriend somewhere in Ojai. I think she stepped on me. It was really cool," he says. "I met you at awards shows and red carpets, but I think that was the first time we met each other outside of that."
Matching each other's energy in order to make "Red Eye" came naturally for the two stars, who both frequent festivals like Burning Man and know how to party.
"She's like me," says Diplo. "She's a nomad of culture and going to cool places and just trying to experience and continue the conversation all over the world."
Klum adds, "We've had some special years at Burning Man, for sure."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
