Auckland rapper Savage has released a moving video to accompany his new single Reach Out (Love Don't Live Here Anymore), which was inspired by his own mental health struggles - and subsequent redemption.
Savage - real name Demetrius Savelio - said he started writing the song after his niece lost her battle with depression earlier this year and took her own life.
He enlisted the help of drama students from Wesley College in Tuakau - his former school - to shoot the video, which illustrates a time in his life when he was involved in street gangs.
"During those times I went through a lot of hardship, I felt like I had lost everything," he said last month.
The college chants are a school tradition, with seniors teaching juniors, and they were glad to share it with Savage.
"There's a moment in the video where I actually attempted to take my own life, but I was actually saved by my older brother."
The video illustrates his older brother pleading with the headmaster of Wesley College to take him in after being expelled from two other schools.
Savage then found Christianity at Wesley, and turned his life around.
In Reach Out, Savage raps about the need for people to remember they are not alone, and to "dig deep, reach out and let it out.
Barely 15 tryna figure out
Where my life will lead and what it's all about
God Give me one reason, now why I shouldn't bounce
Why I should exist here and not up in the clouds
Coz the edge of this ledge got me feeling hella lonely
Can't help but think about others that stood up here before me
If my mom had aborted it be a different story
Now I'm pleading with God swearing and tears are pouring
Father, don't fail me now
Coz I need you to come and bail me out
Or will I wake up before I hit the ground
At the top of my lungs got me yelling out to you like
Demetrius Savelio – better known as Savage – is filming a music video at Wesley College, and talked to students.
The song also features performances from members of Auckland group Tone6, whose members are Samoan, Tongan and Cook Island Māori.
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