Doug Locke Fights Against Bullying In “King” Video: Idolator Premiere

Bianca Gracie | May 4, 2015 7:00 am
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Among the midst of heavyweight pop stars, we occasionally stumble upon some pretty awesome musical gems from up-and-coming artists! The latest that we’ve discovered is singer Doug Locke, whose “King” video we are premiering today (May 4)!

The release coincides with Anti-Bullying Day, and Locke wrote the tune as a call to those feeling bullied to recognize the king or queen within themselves. The accompanying video for “King” is centered around a boy (presumably portraying a young Locke) who struggles with bullies at school but soon finds his inner strength to stand up for himself. It is a touching visual that many people of various backgrounds can relate to.

Locke shared his own thoughts about the visuals:

“We can all relate to feeling alienated at some point in our lives, and I believe that the challenges we face ultimately give us strength and character.  This song is dear to me because while it is based on my story, it is a lot of people’s story.  In essence, I wanted to create a music video that I could show to my younger self that would inspire him to continue to dream, even before he had vision to see beyond his immediate circumstances. Some of the things that caused me the most grief as a child have ultimately become my greatest gifts.”

The singer, who is gay and an avid spokesperson for LGBT rights, previously released his “#ThisCouldBeUs” video that hit No. 32 on the iTunes Hot 100 chart. With comparisons to Prince and Frank Ocean, Locke dropped his debut EP — Blue Heart — on April 7, with “King” being the first single.

Watch the video for “King” up top, and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Get an eyeful of even more pop music coverage, from artist interviews to exclusive performances, on Idolator’s YouTube channel.

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