Taj Weekes & Adowa – Here I Stand

Internationally renowned roots reggae group, Taj Weekes & Adowa premiere their official music video, “Here I Stand,” the first single and centerpiece of their critically acclaimed 5th album, “Love, Herb & Reggae,” distributed through VPAL Music.  The song is Taj Weekes at his most open and honest – fearlessly stating his position on love and same sex relationships.  At its heart, the song is about love – love of many different kinds.  It’s a song designed to create a movement of love and acceptance.  Weekes states, “Love is a human rights issue.  I don’t care who you love, all that matters is that you love.”  With this sentiment, Weekes lyrically sought to create what has now been dubbed “an anti-homophobic anthem”, addressing head on the long standing issues that have created a wedge between the reggae and LGBT community. 

The video, directed by award winning filmmaker Sachin Dharwadker, is produced in black and white.  Simple yet powerful, the masks and choreographed movements represent different types of relationships and at the center of it all is Taj Weekes declaring plainly and simply, “I will not judge.”  Dharwadker marries narrative substance with technical mastery in a manner that evokes a genuine emotional response from the audience.  “Here I Stand” is the result of generous contributions through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign launched earlier this year.  The video will initially premiere on the band’s website – www.tajweekes.com – and will subsequently be released worldwide on various music video platforms.