New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Maxwell has filmed a music video for his newest release, "Shame." Opening with a view of the New York City skyline and models clad in sheer dark scarves, obscuring their faces from view, the video is a vibrant look into black beauty. A low hum sets the stage for this ground-breaking video that dives deep into historical context, popular culture and realities of love; an all star cast led by super model
Maria Borgess, featuring Jeneil Williams, Achok Majak, Riley Montana, Sira Kant and Adonis Bosso as regal depictions of humans shedding their shame.
"We wanted to celebrate beauty. Specifically the beauty of
Black women.
Black women -
Black people - don't see themselves heralded as a standard of beauty nearly enough in the media, especially in entertainment, high fashion and art. It's getting better, but we still have so far to go,"
Maxwell explains. "People of color have carried shame about our features, our hair, our bodies, our skin tone. As I said previously, this song is about removing the cloak of shame and opening up to love... including self-love and love of your culture. So we decided to pay homage to another beautiful video,
George Michael's iconic "
Freedom" - but make it Black. The end result is gorgeous, powerful and stunning. This video is a love letter to my women of color. Feel no shame in your skin - you are beyond beautiful."
Billboard calls "
Shame" a "smooth serenade" while Spin says it is "a stuttering, soulful first single." The new song is the debut single off upcoming album 'NIGHT,' slated for release in 2019 on Columbia Records.
Directors Gerard Bush +
Christopher Renz (Bush + Renz), who also directed the music short film "The Glass House' featuring
Maxwell and staring Yomi Abiola, wanted the video to showcase black excellence in stark contrast to some of the imagery propagated and promoted historically within popular culture. "Maxwell courageously confronts personal shame, liberating himself from the scars of insecurity and bad decisions— while simultaneously and unapologetically celebrating black beauty in all its magnificence. Shame is a bold, sexy, audacious statement, that is meant to catalyze a conversation around extending beauty norms beyond European sensibilities" said Bush + Renz.
Maxwell is on his "50 Intimate Nights Tour" headlining shows all over the country. Following on the heels of performances at North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam and Afropunk Paris, the multi-GRAMMY-winning soul singer will debut new material during these intimate shows alongside his many critically acclaimed hits.
"50 Intimate Nights Live" Tour Dates:
10/17 - Hollywood, FL - Hard Rock Live at the Event Center
10/18 - St. Petersburg, FL - Mahaffey Theater
10/20 - Huntsville, AL - Von Braun Center Concert Hall
10/21 - Jackson, MS -
Thalia Mara Hall
10/24 - New Orleans, LA - Saenger Theatre
10/25 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre
10/27 - Irving, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota
Music Factory
10/28 - Sugar Land, TX - Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
10/29 - San Antonio, TX - Majestic Theatre
11/1 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
11/2 - San Diego, CA - Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
11/3 - Reno, NV - Grand Theatre at The Grand
Sierra Resort
11/4 - Las Vegas, NV - The
Pearl @ Palms Casino Resort
11/8 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre
11/9 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre
11/10 - Los Angeles, CA - Microsoft Theater
11/14 - Kansas City, MO - Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
11/15 - St. Louis, MO - Stifel Theatre
11/18 - Nashville, TN - Schermerhorn Symphony Center
11/20 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
11/21 - Minneapolis, MN -
State Theatre
11/23 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Palace
11/24 - Northfield, OH - Hard Rock Live
11/26 - Toronto, ON - Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
11/28 - Montclair, NJ - The Wellmont Theater
11/29 - Westbury, NY - NYCB Theatre At Westbury
12/1 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre
12/2 - Chicago, IL -
Chicago Theatre
12/3 - Chicago, IL -
Chicago Theatre
12/5 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
12/7 - Wallingford, CT - Toyota Oakdale Theatre
12/8 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theater
12/9 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
