Last March, Jessie Reyez liberated her debut studio album BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US, which saw additional appearances from Eminem, 6LACK, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, J.I.D, Rico Nasty, and Melii. For her latest, she delivers a new visual for “SAME SIDE,” which is produced by Tim Suby and sees Reyez singing about a relationship that she’s on the fence about:
“How come I can’t leave ya? Talk to myself at night, wondering why/
I feel like I am tied down to someone, who’s making me cry more than making me smile/
Leave ya, just make it through the night, lying to myself, saying I’ll be fine/
I don’t want you, I hate you, I think, but I don’t wanna be alone either…/”
The accompanying video acts as a precursor to Jessie Reyez’s previous single “Crazy,” which saw her fighting for her life after being shot by her apparent boyfriend. In “SAME SIDE,” we see the events that unfolded prior to, as Reyez loads her weapon as an unknown figure brings her said boyfriend. During a moment of vulnerability, she’s then quickly attacked.
During a recent interview with NME, Reyez spoke on being inspired by Amy Winehouse and dealing with mental health:
“I loved Amy so much – her creations, her soul, her ability to put emotions into these sad songs that made me feel like I had a friend in the dark… It’s difficult when you’re a teenager and you’re going through depression. The first time you get your heart broken you feel like it’s the end of the world. It’s almost like it’s the first time you feel physical pain from something you can’t see. That’s a mind f***. When I heard Amy, I heard my pain in her voice and it just made me feel less alone.”
Press play on “SAME SIDE” and — if you missed it — “Crazy” below, along with a detailed behind the scenes for the making of both videos.