Jessie Reyez just dropped her Kiddo EP last week, and while "Shutter Island" and "Figures" have been fan favorites for months, "Gatekeeper" might be the most affecting track. The song isn't exactly veiled in allegory—the lyrics tell the story of an industry head who tried to take advantage of Reyez, and her subsequent rebuttal. The "gatekeeper" in question is unabashed about his expectations: "Don't you know you're supposed to get drunk and get naked?" It's an issue as old as the industry, but one that we've become depressingly numb to over time.
The lyrics take on a whole new edge with the newly released video—it's like watching a car crash play out in slow-motion, making the transgressions stand out in all their horrific detail. The fact that the scene is flanked by a young, innocent stand-in for Reyez makes it sting all the more. If you needed any more convincing that Jessie Reyez is an artistic force to be reckoned with, here's further proof. Watch the video above, and check out Jessie's SXSW performance of "Shutter Island" below.
