Legendary R&B/soul singer Macy Gray has released the official music video for “Buddha” (featuring blues-rock guitarist Gary Clark Jr.) from her latest album, RUBY. The video was directed by the multi-talented Teyana “Spike Tee” Taylor.
“Buddha” finds Macy reflecting on her 20+ years in the music business, the disorienting nature of fame, and her quest to find her center and stay grounded.
As Macy told Rolling Stone, “Underneath the Gary Clark solo, the incredible production by Johan Carlsson, and the Teyana Taylor-directed video is a little story about my battles with mental health. Though it has held me up and set me back many times, I was able to write this song because I am winning my war with it. And I’m able to celebrate my present and look forward to my future because of it. To everybody struggling with something, it’ll be okay, just don’t let it beat you. Buddha says ‘concentrate the mind in the present’ – and that’s where it’s at all the time.”
Leading up to the video release, Macy hosted a cover art contest on Instagram and received over 300 submissions from artists hoping to win the $500 prize and have their art featured as the official “Buddha” single artwork. The winner, created by Jonathan Caustrita, is featured above.