PREMIERE: Melina Malone shares music video for 'Realize'

Melina Malone shared her brand new single 'Realize' last Friday (Nov. 13th), and now Hot Press is delighted to premiere the R&B singer's music video. Featuring Melina’s trademark dynamic vocals and an effortless groove-filled production, ‘Realize’ is the latest track released by the powerhouse duo comprised of Malone and her co-producer RVSTLESS.

Conveying a message to women that their value should never be defined by how desirable they are to a man, ‘Realize’ is a story that explores a toxic relationship between a man and woman, where the man is being the one observed and his actions criticized.

“As women, we are constantly living our lives surrounded by the male gaze," said Malone of the track. "As John Berger once noted, 'Men 'act' and women 'appear.' Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at.'

"I wanted to invert this narrative in ‘Realize’, the song is entirely from the woman’s perspective and follows her journey in realizing the toxicity and manipulative behaviour she has endured from the man, which is articulated in the first two verses," Malone continues. "The song progresses and the narrative changes so that the woman is now addressing and uplifting other women who may feel that their worth is diminished because of how they have been treated. I want to emancipate and build up women who can relate to this story. The ultimate message of ‘Realize' is that you are not defined by what happens to you, but by how you choose to respond..”

Watch the video below.