Kehlani spreads her wings in the video for “Butterfly” off her newly-released mixtape While We Wait.
The R&B songbird experiences a metamorphosis in the stunning clip, directed by 20-year-old newcomer Trey Lyons. A pregnant Kehlani emerges from a cocoon before transforming into a butterfly with painted glittery wings and a glowing baby bump.
Kehlani enlisted the help of students and faculty members from her former school, Oakland School for the Arts. Her dance teacher, Mr. Savage, and production design teacher, Jean Francois Revon, recruited students, who designed the set and created the choreography in just three days. The 14-year-old dance twins, Munir and Musa Omar, are current students of the school.
“Thank you Oakland School for the Arts for cultivating such a beautiful community, and teaching me so much of what I use today in my career,” said Kehlani. “Directed by the youngest director I’ve ever worked with @treylyons, thank you for bringing my vision to life.”
“Butterfly” follows videos for the Dom Kennedy-assisted “Nunya” and “Nights Like This” with Ty Dolla $ign. While We Wait also features collaborations with 6LACK and Musiq Soulchild.
Get a rush by watching the “Butterfly” video below.