Fast up-and comer Willie Jones has today shared his poignant and powerful song – American Dream – on Martin Luther King day, ahead of the release of his debut album – Right Now – available this Friday January 22nd via The Penthouse/EMPIRE. Listen to Willie’s in-depth interview on Apple Music now to find out more about the track.
Today, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Willie Jones shares his poignant, powerful new song “American Dream.” It is a patriotic protest against the racial injustice that continues to plague the world, recognising civil rights leaders such as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and those making an impact in the Black Lives Matter and current social justice movements. Of the track, Willie Jones tells Zane Lowe on Apple Music, ‘”American Dream,” I wrote it a few days after the 4th of July and I was just struggling to put on my red, white, and blue, but I was like, “Screw that. This is my country.” You know what I’m saying? This is where my people built the country, literally, and I’m here and I just wrote it for unity, man. For me, it was just stating the truth and the obvious.’
“When I saw the final edit, I knew this was my most important statement to date as an artist,” said Jones. “It’s going to make people think and also understand how I see our country, our collective past, and futures. It was captured perfectly: the emotion, the creative use of anime, the message being relatable to so many. I felt relieved and inspired. No joke, I got chills.”
Jones’ video paints the American Dream – as a superhero, something for people to look up to and work towards, while also putting a spotlight on police brutality and racism and paying tribute to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Rayshard Brooks, Daniel Prude, Sandra Bland, Aura Rosser, Botham Jean and many others.
Along with the song and video, Jones launches his #IHaveAnAmericanDream challenge initiative in partnership with the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAN), which opens today (1.18). The initiative asks individuals to share their dream for change in America and encourages donations to the museum by texting ‘AMERICANDREAM’ TO 707070.
Jones debut album ‘Right Now,’ is available this Fri., Jan. 22 via The Penthouse/EMPIRE. Pre-add/pre-save the album HERE.
