Jake Clemons enlists Allison Russell, Tom Morello and more for his powerful and moving Juneteenth single and video Born Like Me — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The video for the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s latest release was shot at Clemons’ alma mater, the Virginia Governor’s School For The Arts in Norfolk and was directed by GSA alum Daniel Russell (Missy Elliot, SZA, Cardi B).The video features Jake’s song with an additional intro composed by Chace Moss, an outro by Courtney Jay Connor, a performance by 25¢ String Quartet and visual performances by members of the school’s theatre, film, dance visual arts and music departments.
“Born Like Me as both a song and a music video is one of my most deep reaching artistic efforts to date,” Clemons says. “The song was written at a time when the turmoil of the unjust executions of our American brothers and sisters were being captured on camera and highlighted amongst a wide media backdrop. A time when the realities of such painful discrepancies in our justice system were being brought into focus as voices crying for a stronger sense of humanity were ringing in the streets.
“The stories of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s last moments among the living drew me in to recount the harshness of their earthly departures. This was happening to the folks ‘born like me.’ I firmly believe that each of us are connected.All of humanity is ultimately made up of one single beautiful family and it requires us to love and protect every part of it to make us whole.”
The video for Born Like Me was written by Russel and producer Matt Friedman and was executive produced by Deborah Thorpe and Michelle Cihak, produced by Lachlan McClellan and Friedman, with Ethan Wen as the director of photography.
“While envisioning a vehicle to communicate the sentiment of this song visually, I chose to reach out to my high school alma mater, the Governor’s School For The Arts in Norfolk, VA,” Clemons says. “I felt strongly about the importance of a powerful youthful representation coupled with a sincere level of artistic excellence to help tell the story and there is no better resource for this than GSA. I am extremely proud of the profound efforts put forth by these amazing high school students as well as the incredible leadership of the amazing staff.
“The goal was to connect every viewer to these stories, for them to feel a deeper sense of humanity as a part of a family to fuel a conviction that as they look at their neighbors and broader communities. I wanted for each viewer to feel compelled to declare for themselves that these terrible atrocities are not happening to ‘those people’ but, in order to make the statement true in their own voice, that all of this is happening to those ‘born like me’.”
Clemons’ musical endeavors over the past decade have made him a globally familiar figure. He has toured the world performing his own music with The Jake Clemons Band and has spent the last 12 years as tenor and baritone sax player with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, also appearing on Springsteen’s album Letter To You and the companion TV documentary. Clemons has also recorded and performed with The Killers, Eddie Vedder, Glen Hansard, Prophets of Rage, Roger Waters, US Girls, Arkells and Grouplove (among others).
His previous releases include the Embracing Light EP, Fear And Love (which reached No. 25 on the Billboard Americana charts) and his most recent release Eyes On The Horizon, where he once again created a new chapter, this time taking it a step further by adding his voice to those seeking to find clarity in a complicated world and expanding both his musical vision and philosophical perspective. “We always have to carry that hope with us, we have to use it to look towards the horizon,” he says.
Watch the video for Born Like Me above, hear more from Jake Clemons below, and find him on his website, Facebook and Twitter.
