Brittany Howard - Stay High

What this video is

Released July 16, 2019, as the second single from Brittany Howard's debut solo album Jaime (ATO Records, September 20, 2019), 'Stay High' arrived during Howard's transition from Alabama Shakes frontwoman to solo artist. The video is an explicit tribute to her father K.J. Howard, depicting a celebration of Black Southern working-class dignity and the restorative joy of coming home. Shot entirely in Athens, Alabama…

Why it matters

A landmark in the 2010s Americana-soul video tradition, 'Stay High' exemplifies the anti-spectacle school of music video production — privileging emotional authenticity, geographic specificity, and communal identity over production gloss. Its Grammy win for Best Rock Song and chart dominance…

The director

Australian director born in Sydney; studied at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. Spent eight years as a Creative at advertising agency Mother before transitioning to directing, represented by production house Somesuch. Known for humanist,…