See Chris Stapleton’s Harrowing ‘Fire Away’ Video
Though it’s his remarkable voice powering the song, Chris Stapleton takes a supporting role in the new powerful video for “Fire Away.”
The singer-songwriter, who just claimed a Best Country Album Grammy for Traveller, shows up periodically in the Tim Mattia-directed clip as a bartender pouring shots but the narrative mainly focuses on the troubles of the distraught drinker (played by actor Ben Foster) at his establishment. In flashback scenes, the traumatic story is revealed: at first, the man and his wife (Margarita Levieva) move into a new home, seemingly embarking on a happy next chapter together.
But all is not well: things begin to take a startling, alarming turn for the worse as the wife’s moods become increasingly erratic. Though the video isn’t a literal interpretation of Stapleton’s lyrics, the video captures the song’s weary sadness and brings the doomed resilience of his narrator to life in Foster’s performance. The tone finally becomes pitch black when the wife, with accelerating desperation, resorts to self-harm.
The video aims to highlight mental health awareness and the Campaign to Change Direction‘s efforts to identify the five signs of emotional suffering: change in personality, agitation, withdrawal, decline in personal care and hopelessness.
On a lighter note, Stapleton appears on producer Dave Cobb’s Southern Family concept record singing backup for wife Morgane on a bluesy version of “You Are My Sunshine.” His next tour stops will take him overseas to Europe through March, before performing at the ACM Party for a Cause in Las Vegas on April 2nd.