Rising pop singer John-Robert premiered the zany music video for his new single “Pelican” on Tuesday (April 21), exclusively to Billboard.
Directed by frequent Brockhampton collaborator Spencer Ford, the surreal visual finds the 19-year-old getting attacked by the gigantic, papier-mâché bird of the song’s title. “With my head of a pelican, I want to let you in/ Gobble you up, just gobble you up/ So sweet to the touch, just call all my love/ And I’ll bottle you up, bottle you up,” he croons while running through sunset-lit streets with the pieces of the decapitated pelican in his hands.
“The song was written in a time of my life where I was still mourning the failure of a romantic relationship, while trying to pull myself up by my boot straps and begin making new friends,” John-Robert tells Billboard. “I was inspired by the book Where The Wild Things Are. I drew from that for the cannibalism concept. The idea of imprisoning someone in a stomach or beak out of destructive devotion was striking to me.”
Arriving on the heels of lead single “Urs,” the new track serves as the second single off the Edinburg, Va. native’s forthcoming debut EP, Bailey Barely Knew Me, which is set for release May 22 Nice Life Recording Company/Warner Records.
Check out the exclusive premiere of “Pelican” below.
