Synth-pop singer-songwriter and producer Ari Staprans Leff — AKA Lauv — debuted a new music video for his latest track Sad Forever today, and it shows footage from his performance in Manila during the concert he had here just a couple of weeks back.
It’s also the same show that the musician performed the song for the first time ever.
Sad Forever is about battling depression, which was released just in time before the end of the Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States.
The video shows Lauv singing in front of a sea of Filipino concert-goers. He performed at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on May 20 for the first day of his two-day concert in the country. Lauv performed at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City the day after.
In the video, Filipinos fans can be seen holding their phones up to illuminate the venue in a sea of softly glowing lights. Lauv can also be seen hugging a fan while on stage in the VIP area.
Throughout the music video, Lauv explains his battle with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder and the help he received to get through it.
He also said mental illness is something that is often times not apparent and “finding stability is a process that I’m still heavily working on.”
“I felt out of control… One day I decided that what I was doing wasn’t working and I needed more help. Although I was hesitant, I decided to trust my psychiatrist and try a couple of medications that were supposed to help.”
“Weeks later, I realized that medication was far from the enemy I thought it was. I realized the help that I needed was okay,” he explained.
READ: Third time’s the charm: Lauv debuts newly written song, wears barong Tagalog at Manila concert
He added that all proceeds from the song will be donated to mental health organizations working to remove the stigma on mental illness, including the Philippine-based charity Wellbeing Cluster.
Back in May 20 at his Manila show, Lauv told his audience that it was there that he was performing the song for the first time. He also said that his team would take videos during the Manila show and that they would use it for its music video.
He told fans during the Manila concert: “Last night, I finished this song on the airplane [going to Manila]. It’s a song that I’m really, really, really passionate about that I wrote at a really, really hard time. For lack of better words, I was feeling really, really shitty and really sad. And, since tonight is such a special show, I wanted to share [this song] with you guys first.”
Lauv also said during the concert that his Araneta Coliseum show was the largest one he’s ever played.
If you or anyone you know has mental issues or is struggling with personal problems, please call the 24/7 HOPELINE at (02) 804 4673, (0917) 558 4673, or 2919 to seek professional help.
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