— Rapper Chester Watson announces his upcoming Amsterdam concert alongside a new music video for “grey theory” off his latest album.
Following the release of his new album fish don’t climb trees last month, Chester Watson shares a self-directed video for album single “grey theory.” The introspective song was inspired by Basquiat and a St. Petersburg visionary Robert Gallardo, whose voice you can hear emanating at the song’s close. The video references the inspiration for the song and recurring line “feelin like Basquiat,” as Chester models himself and the art featured in the video after the world-renowned artist.
Speaking on the visuals, Chester says,
“Basquiat and his band, “Gray”, and just how he had to maneuver very extreme areas throughout his life and honestly within a very short period as well in homelessness & then world renown fame. The calm within the chaos, or the chaos within the calm; both are extremes that I wanted to shed light on. Basically how we have to find our equilibrium (grey) between any extremes that life may give us (black & white).”
Alongside the “grey theory” music video, Chester announces his headlining live show in Amsterdam at SEXYLAND World on August 13th with support from Shungu. Tickets are available HERE.
Across the album’s 11 tracks, fish don’t climb trees solidifies Watson’s place as a master craftsman of immersive albums rife with personal reflections and a signature sonic palette that’s as eerie and hair-raising as it is complex.The 26-year-old St. Louis born artist puts himself at the forefront of this new album, reflecting on the adversity he’s had to overcome to reach this point, and the personal growth that’s emerged as a result.
fish don’t climb trees takes its name from the alleged Einstein quote but imbues Chester’s own message to heed to his own standards and avoid the influences of misguided characterizations or seemingly innocent judgments. “As a Black person, we’re always judged on criteria that are literally meaningless,” Chester says. With fish don’t climb trees, he’s committed to only one set of standards: his own.
Listen to fish don’t climb trees and watch the video for “grey theory” above, and stay tuned for more from Chester Watson coming soon.