Watch Savage's Powerful Video For 'Reach Out' Feat. Tone6

Aotearoa hip hop titan Savage has dropped a powerful new video for his single 'Reach Out (Love Don't Live Here Anymore)', reflecting on the significant challenges he faced as a homeless teenager growing up in South Auckland. Riffing on Rose Royce's 1978 hit 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore' and directed by the artist himself, the clip for 'Reach Out' depicts Savage's turbulent young life on the streets following troubles with family and the law, and how he found new direction with support from friends and mentors at Pukekohe's Wesley College. Written "in honour of my young niece Theresa Matautia who lost her battle with mental illness last year to suicide" and tackling the topic of mental health head on, Savage's emotionally raw yet hopeful song showcases the talents of Tāmaki Makaurau vocal group Tone6, while his video's youthful cast is comprised of the Wesley College Senior Drama Class of 2019.

Savage opened up about his video: “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.

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 there full-time at Wesley College and it is at this school where my life completely changed for the better and is where I found my love for music!”

If you are concerned about yourself or a friend please reach out to Lifeline at 0800 543 354.

MusicHelps provide a 24/7 Wellbeing Service – an online, on the phone (tollfree 0508MUSICHELP) and in-person counselling service provided free of charge to those that make live or recorded music possible in Aotearoa. For more info head along here.