Speaking on the video, director Ahluwalia says “directing this video was such an honour. I love the song and felt such an emotional connection to it. The song is about community and how in the face of adversity, community is vital for Black people as we come together to battle against hardships. Community is also an important factor for us to be able to enjoy our own lives and have joy in the day to day, despite the hardships. This is something that is so important to me and my work so I felt Grace and I really connected on wanting to communicate this in the video. I wanted to create something where we celebrated this sense of community but also represented the rawness and emotion that Riot is rooted in.
It was also an honour to contribute to Grace's wardrobe and create a customised Ahluwalia look for her for the video. I can't thank Grace and her team enough for the opportunity to create this really special piece of work, it's a project that I will cherish forever."
Since Grace’s return earlier this year, Grace has consistently been setting the bar higher and higher with each subsequent single. While recent releases Pick Your Tears Up and Bloodwar have showcased an artist unafraid to experiment and refine their craft, Riot is a true testament of an artist at the pinnacle of their extraordinary songwriting gifts while showcasing a new found sense of maturity and growth. Originally written in response to the murder of Eric Garner in 2014 at the hands of the police, the Wilkinson-produced track is sweeping and defiant as it builds to a powerful chorus, matching Grace’s striking voice with vital lyrics such as “you started a riot / I’ll never be silent /excuse me if I get angry, it’s my right / you started a riot tonight”.
Speaking on the track, Grace says “Riot is a song about injustice and specifically the emotional and physical injustices that black people face daily. It’s a song that touches on the literal meaning of the word but more for me, it is about the emotional turmoil and the internal riot so many black people experience. It was written in 2014 about the murder of Eric Garner but the sad reality is that the lyrics of the song have constantly been reinforced and made relevant time and time again by systemic racism and police brutality; the horrific incident surrounding the murder of George Floyd further illustrates this. The song is about something very painful and traumatising but it’s also really important to me to represent black joy, power and community. Music has always been a vehicle for me to speak about things that are important to me and this song is me using my voice and doing what I can do to spread a message”.
About Grace Carter:
In 2018, Grace released her debut EP Why Her Not Me. A striking exploration of pain and loss, the EP was inspired by her father’s absence but it’s vulnerable meditation on relationships resonated with audiences and critics alike landing her third on the BBC Sound Poll 2019 along with huge playlisting support across BBC Radio 1 (where it hit the A-list) and BBC Radio 2. Additionally, Grace played shows across the US, Asia and Europe (not to mention much-heralded festival appearances at Glastonbury, Made In America, SxSW & Latitude amongst many others), toured with HAIM, Dua Lipa, Lewis Capaldi and Jorja Smith, strengthened already firm relationships with Cartier and JW Anderson and appeared on magazine covers across the globe. With a voice unafraid to probe emotional depths, her authenticity has allowed her to traverse global boundaries.
2023 is already shaping up to be an incredible year for Grace Carter. Since the release of Pick Your Tears Up in February, she sold out a very intimate show at Omeara in 30 seconds; she headlined a brand-new UK/EU tour throughout June; she stunned at LFW where she attended the likes of Mowalola, Ahluwalia and more; she appeared on Amazon’s +44 podcast with Zeze Mills for International Women’s Day. All the while, Pick Your Tears Up has accumulated widespread support across BBC Radio1 and Apple Music, where it was heralded by Clara Amfo, Travis Mills, Victoria Jane, Sian Eleri, Jack Saunders and many others. With over 300m streams and counting, Grace continues to hint at a newfound sense of creative freedom and her most exciting work yet with the release of Riot.
