Brittany Campbell exudes dignity during Difficulty on the single “Matter” [Single + Video]

Talking about race, racism, and protesting requires courage, especially when you’re having these types of conversations with family and friends. If you’re closely following the many calls for justice that are repeatedly being made by ordinary people all over the world, then you’ve probably heard or read a few broad-scale arguments about these issues. But more importantly, you’ve probably had a few tense one-on-one conversations of your own with people that you know and respect. One such conversation acted as the catalyst for singer-actress Brittany Campbell’s most recent single “Matter” – an absorbing ripple of acoustic-soul that finds the talented virtuoso looking inwardly as she wrestles with questions of race, worth, and freedom.

While moving and unquestionably soul-stirring, “Matter” is a tender examination of the way that many of us process the outrage that black and brown lives carry on a daily basis. Honestly, I was struck by how softly the song moves along as I found myself being absorbed into Brittany’s peaceful voice. While I went into my listening session expecting something meditative, I kind of expected myself to feel a little bit more pissed off as I thought about the issues of racial injustice, black homicides, and the fact that the phrase “black lives matter” is considered controversial by some people. But the song is delivered so sweetly and elegantly that I found myself strengthened by Brittany Campbell’s dignity and the dignity that it stirred up in me. So while there is an element of sorrow that comes with a line like “When you see us/Are we here?/Do we matter?”, there is also hope in the realization that so many of us are willing to address the reality of the situation with unflinching clarity.

Sifting through the themes and memories that turned “Matter” into a fully realized production, Campbell offered, “I was having a lot of difficult conversations with people that I hold close to my heart. I left many of these exchanges knowing something was missed or left unsaid. I thought, why is the statement ‘Black Lives Matter’ even up for debate? Why is it viewed as a political statement instead of fact? I wrote ‘Matter’ to address everyone. To encourage introspection and to keep peeling back the layers of ourselves.”. She also decided to put her skills as a self-taught illustrator on display as she put together the song’s poignant video – which pays respect to martyred souls such as Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Oluwatoyin Salau, Nina Pop, Ahmaud Arbeary, and others. Both the song and video are deeply moving works of art that I highly recommend adding to any playlist that you find yourself turning to when the weight of it all seems too heavy to carry any further.

You can show your support by purchasing the single “Matter” from your favorite spot below as well as check out more from Brittany Campbell by visiting the links listed.

Stream & buy Brittany Campbell’s music on…
( Amazon | Bandcamp | Deezer | Google Play | iTunes | Spotify | Tidal )

Connect with Brittany Campbell on…
( Facebook | Instagram | Official Site | ReverbNation | Soundcloud | Twitter | YouTube )