Blues guitarist and singer Gary Clark Jr. has debuted the racially-charged music video for his new single, “This Land”. The song acts as the lead single and title track for his forthcoming studio album, which is now scheduled to arrive on March 1st via Warner Bros. Records. The firey new tune showcases Clark blending the angst and energy of hip-hop with his signature power blues guitar lines as one heck of an introduction to his next album cycle.
The mesmerizing video was directed by filmmaker Savanah Leaf, and features Clark taking on historically tragic themes centered around southern racism in America. Objects which are highlighted throughout the video include chains, cotton fields, ropes used for lynchings, southern plantations, confederate flags, and a snake–with the latter signifying the evil rooted behind all of them. All of which are eventually gathered and thrown into a small fire while Clark is seen shredding away his guitar towards the song’s climatic latter half. The second part of the song (and video) features much more toned-down playing, as Clark is seen strumming and singing away on the front porch of an old plantation home as the sun rises on a new day, presumably signifying his hope for the next, more optimistic chapter in the ongoing story of America. The honest and thrilling new video can be watched in full below.
Gary Clark Jr. – “This Land” – Official Music Video
[Video: Gary Clark Jr.]
Clark also shared a video of himself speaking to Apple Music Beats 1 host Zane Lowe about “This Land” to his Facebook shortly after the video’s noon debut on Thursday.
“I’d been experimenting with beats and I kind of got on the empty seat with this one and started that way, I kind of wanted to start from the bottom and have that heavy kick and [the] crack of the snares,” Clark mentions about his new sound direction in the brief interview video. “I just fell into it. I put my headphones on and just kind of went to work.”
Related: Gary Clark Jr. Bends The Blues At Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre
Fans will get the chance to hear “This Land” and all the other new material featured on This Land when Clark heads out on his 2019 spring tour beginning with an opening night at the Fillmore Miami Beach at The Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami, Florida on March 9th. Tickets for the tour be found by clicking here. Fans can also click here to pre-order This Land ahead of its arrival in March.