NZ hip-hop legend Savage has released a moving video to accompany his song ‘Reach Out’, which he wrote to support those struggling with mental wellbeing.
Savage re-wrote the 1978 Rose Royce hit as ‘Reach Out (Love Don’t Live Here Anymore)’ in tribute to his niece who lost her battle with mental illness to suicide last year. He wanted to encourage those struggling with mental health to reach out.
Savage spoke to Music 101’s Charlotte Ryan about the song.
The song’s video, directed by Savage, depicts his own struggles as a teenager.
“I was raised by my sister because my parents were absent, my brother had left us to live at Wesley College. I had just been kicked out of two high schools and had no one but my boys on the streets.
"With no role models or influential people in my life, I rebelled and got arrested so much that my sister had finally had enough and kicked me out,” he says.
“After exhausting my chances of sleeping on friends couches, floors, cars etc. I found myself having to take shelter under a bridge in the middle of winter.
"One day by chance my brother managed to convince his principal to allow me to attend and board full-time at Wesley College and it was at this school where my life completely changed for the better. It's where I found my love for music!”
Savage worked with a team of talented NZ musicians on ‘Reach Out (Love Don’t Live Here Anymore)’, including Grammy-nominated Kiwi producer Willstah, who's worked with the likes of Ariana Grande. The song also features South Auckland vocal group Tone6.
Watch Savage performing with Tone 6 at Roundhead Studios in Auckland:
