Music, like the rest of the arts, can be one of the most effective ways to convey strong messages, especially in today's extremely volatile political climate. With his latest short film, titled "The Glass House," soul singer Maxwell uses his new song, "We Never Saw It Coming," as a vehicle to do just that.
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The first music we've heard from the GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter since 2016's blackSUMMERS'night, "We Never Saw It Coming" features language that reflects what's going on in our world today: "We've never been so divided. … We never saw it/Like the bombs that's blasting/Religious clashing." Set against a sorrowful tune delivered with Maxwell's signature velvety voice, the song itself packs a powerful punch.
To further drive home Maxwell's commentary on the state of the world today, "The Glass House" adds visuals to the poignant song. Directed by Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz, and starring Maxwell and activist/actress Yomi Abiola, the film depicts the pair reflectively looking out over the Los Angeles skyline, where we eventually see an explosion.
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkMupKOnqnr/" data-instgrm-version="8" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkMupKOnqnr/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">“ we should have loved harder ..” @yomi_abiola THE GLASS HOUSE ~ we never saw it coming @bushrenz now live on @vevo</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maxwell/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Maxwell</a> (@maxwell) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2018-06-19T08:04:54+00:00">Jun 19, 2018 at 1:04am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
"A planet on the precipice brings us to this moment; global unrest and uncertainty plagues America with a palpable level of anxiety," Bush and Renz said in a statement. "As artists and storytellers, we have a responsibility to raise our voices to alert and activate people out of complacency."
"As an artist I feel a responsibility to entertain as well as inform," Maxwell added. "In the words of the great Nina Simone, 'It is the duty of the artist to reflect the times.' If we are to leave the world better than we found it, we all have to come together, unified in love, for our fellow man and this beautiful planet that we all call home."
