After releasing her most recent anthemic track earlier this month, WILLOW has shared the official video for her Travis Barker collab “t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l.”
The 20-year-old singer was inspired to embrace her pop-punk side by iconic bands such as Paramore, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and Barker’s own band blink-182. The “t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l” music video follows suit while also incorporating more of WILLOW’s spiritual side.
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“I’m so happy that I got to bring these two parts of myself together,” she says. “[The visual brings] this spiritual part of myself into this pop-punk angsty world that I wanted to create for the video.”
The visual opens with WILLOW walking into a vibrant nightclub. As she enters the industrial-esque space, she sees people smoking, wearing ski masks and pouring drinks everywhere. Barker is also staged playing drums within the crowd. After getting into an argument and drawing attention from bystanders in the crowded club, a metallic figure suddenly appears and seemingly only WILLOW can see it.
Feeling disoriented by the sudden appearance of the metallic figure, WILLOW stumbles in the bathroom to recover only to see the figure again. Now, incredibly paranoid, WILLOW quickly exits the club and walks down the street by herself. However, the unknown figure continues to follow her. After another run-in with the figure, WILLOW transcends on a spiritual journey of her inner consciousness. Ultimately, the video ends with WILLOW bravely facing her fears and reaching out to the figure despite not knowing what will happen.
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Through WILLOW’s spiritual journey, the video features a glowing symbol. This icon, known as the Flower Of Life, is an important shape that represents the circle of life.
This is just one reference to WILLOW’s spiritual side, as the song itself was originally inspired by a quote from a swami. Urging people to embrace the good, the bad and the ugly about themselves, the quote reads, “It is said that a saintly person is so pure that he or she acts like a spotless mirror. When we come in the presence of such mirror-like soul, we can see both the beauty and the ugliness of our inner life.”
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“t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l” marks a new era for WILLOW. Her forthcoming full-length is set for release this summer via Roc Nation/MSFTSMusic. The record will also continue with the sonic shift “t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l” introduced to fans.
As she began to make the album, WILLOW was initially uncertain how the public would react to her new sound. However, it was a path she ultimately decided she wanted to take.
“I realized that it’s not my voice that can’t sing this kind of music,” she says. “I was afraid to sing this kind of music because I wasn’t sure what people would think.” However, she goes on to say, “I thought this was a really dope outlet for a new energy I wanted to bring to my music.”
Taking advantage of the quarantine imposed by COVID-19, WILLOW recorded the first demos for the album at her home. Throughout the creative process, she was able to return to the pop-punk artists she listened to as a child. Singers such as Avril Lavigne, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, and My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way all greatly impacted WILLOW’s musical direction.
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However, one artist a little closer to home had a large influence on her new sound: her mother. Aside from her acting career, WILLOW’s mother Jada Pinkett Smith was in the nu-metal band Wicked Wisdom for much of WILLOW’s childhood.
“I was always so inspired by the power of her voice,” she says about her mom.
Now, alongside her music career, WILLOW and Pinkett Smith co-host the Facebook Watch show Red Table Talk with WILLOW’s grandmother Adrienne Banfield-Norris. Each episode shows the three generations discussing various hot topics. Oftentimes guests will also appear on the show, including other members of the Smith family such as WILLOW’s brother Jaden and father Will.
In a fitting tribute to her mother, WILLOW organized a Wicked Wisdom reunion for an episode of the show. With WILLOW at the helm, the group revisited one of their classic numbers, as Pinkett Smith was able to witness her daughter’s musical journey continuing to unfold.
You can watch the video for “t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l” featuring Travis Barker below. Let us know your thoughts on WILLOW’s new sound in the comments!
“t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l” lyrics
I don’t fuckin know if it’s a lie or it’s a fact
All your little fake friends will sell your secrets for some cash
Smile in my face then put your cig out on my back
If you ever see me just get to runnin’ like the flash
I knew a boy just like you
He’s a snake just like you
Such a fake just like you
But I can see the truth
Transparent soul
I can see right through just so you know
Transparent soul
I can see right through just so you know
I don’t fuckin know it’s paradise or it’s a trap
Yeah, they’re treating me like royalty but is it kissin’ ass
No one’s brave enough to take the fall right
But it’s all your fault
Why you actin like it’s alright
I knew a girl just like you
She was vain just like you
Such a pain just like you but I can see the truth
Transparent soul
I can see right through just so you know
Transparent soul
I can see right through just so you know
It’s clear to me know
You’re scared of me wow
It’s clear to me now
(Transparent soul)
It’s clear to me know
You’re scared of me wow
It’s clear to me now
(Transparent soul)
Transparent soul
I can see right through just so you know
Transparent soul
I can see right through just so you know