June 4, 2020 (Los Angeles) – The world is raging. The nation is anguishing. The city is burning. Hatred and injustice were pandemics in this country long before COVID-19 showed up. We are fighting two viruses at the same time. Both have the potential to isolate us from each other or to bring us together in new ways. That is where Sekou Andrews’ newly released video, and accompanying single, for his poem “Love Says” comes in. 

Releasing the piece in 2019, for the GRAMMY® award-nominated album Sekou Andrews & The String Theory, Andrews could not have known exactly how soon the piece would reflect the types of injustices that are now being protested across the country. However, as a Black man in America, he knew it wouldn’t be long. 

“The only thing I believe can cure the virus of hatred is love,” states Andrews. “Not the painless, sing-songy, kumbaya version, but the burning eyes, burning throat, and burning blood version. Not just the ‘Love thy neighbor’ version, but the ‘Love thy enemy’ version. The vaccine is comprised of both the “turn the other cheek” strain of Love and the ‘by any means necessary’ strain because, in that duality is where love has always lived.”

Partnering with the incredibly creative agency Optimist Inc., the mission was to make the most beautiful message about what love says.

“It all started when Sekou and The String Theory recorded a song and video in our studios last year. After hearing the powerful words of “Love Says” we knew that we had to focus on exactly that, the words. Any film had to get out of the way and give Sekou the stage to express them. It was an exercise in restraint that left us with the words and the artist, literally,” states Optimist Chief Creative Officer Toygar Bazarkaya.

Check out the video for “Love Says” below.