Waking up to a monumental Election Day in the middle of a pandemic is a strange feeling. There’s uncertainty in the air as we watch friends post “I Voted” selfies on Instagram while businesses downtown board up their windows in case of civil unrest. Suffice to say, many of us are experiencing a little extra anxiety today.
Allow me to recommend a musical respite from the chaos of reality.
“Be Honest” is an ethereal new song from two Texas-grown musicians, Canteen Killa and Elliott Skinner, about searching for fulfillment in life and being true to yourself. It’s folksy and experimental, with hints of gospel and electro.
Skinner grew up in Dallas and graduated from Booker T. Washington before attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, then moving to New York City to pursue music full time. You may know him from being one-third of the band Thirdstory, which split up in 2019. Skinner has also performed with Chance the Rapper on several occasions.
While Canteen Killa also attended Berklee, the two artists only connected through a mutual friend in 2016. “Be Honest” is the first track they made together in 2019, and they decided to revisit the concept earlier this year.
“This song is an exploration of ideas based on themes of self-doubt, relationships, the trials of life, our search for fulfillment, and honesty,” Skinner said in a statement.
The music video was filmed outside of New York City, but it draws on more Texas talent: Dallas-based filmmaker Cyrus Stowe directed the romantic visual.
Have a watch, take a deep breath, and go about your day–hopefully feeling just a tiny bit lighter.
