Justine Skye sheds light on domestic violence in the visual for her new single “Build” featuring Arin Ray.
Inspired by true events, the Savanah Leaf-directed video displays a toxic relationship at its most tumultuous as the sultry songstress tries to break free from the mayhem. Skye is seen arguing with a male antagonistic, while the camera pans to the “past” where the couple rendezvous for a romantic evening on a rooftop.
Skye shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram about the inspiration behind the video. “As Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to an end, the issue doesn’t just disappear. Recently I’ve had one of the scariest/heart breaking experiences in my life and it’s still hard for me to talk about,” she wrote. “I felt stupid, angry, depressed.. blamed myself. Trying to figure out how someone who claimed they loved me so much could find such evil within themselves to hurt me mentally and physically. Learned a lot about the people I chose to call my “friends”.. and about myself.”
She continued, “I was one of those people who would be like ‘No man would ever put their hands on me! .. blah blah blah..’ We all think we know what we’d do until it’s happening to you. Now, I’m not looking for sympathy and never thought this would be part of the story I’d be telling of my self.. unfortunately it is, but I won’t let it be what defines me. I had to find the strength within myself and I’m hoping that through this video I can motivate whoever else is going through this or worse, to do the same. You are strong, you are loved and you deserve so much better.”
“Build” is the first single from Skye’s forthcoming EP, Fall For It, which is slated to release in early 2019.
The R&B enchantress released her debut album Ultraviolet earlier this year in January. Afterwards, she embarked on the Ultraviolet Tour, which lasted from March to April.
Words by Edward Dave