Watch Dawn Richard’s surreal ‘Tide: The Paradox Effect’

It’s rare to care about a music video these days, but R&B singer Dawn Richard just dropped the coolest, trippiest clip we’ve seen in ages.

To coincide with the release of her sophomore album, “Blackheart” (it’s out now and is currently No. 1 on iTunes’ Electronic chart), the former Danity Kane/Diddy-Dirty Money singer released the sci-fi-inspired visual for album outtake “Tide: The Paradox Effect.”

In the black-and-white animated video, which Richard directed with digital studio We Were Monkeys, the singer doesn’t appear. Instead, she is conceptualized as a futuristic gladiator battling galactic forces to reach the sun -- anyone who has followed Richard’s career trajectory will catch the symbolism.

“I wanted to visually stimulate and really create a story that emulated the ferocity of this movement,” Richard told Pop & Hiss of the new video. “‘Tide’ sonically charges and bends, creating a cinematic sci-fi experience. We wanted the watcher to feel as if they were walking the journey with me.”

The new song, like “Blackheart,” takes a darker twist on Richard’s electronic-driven spin on R&B. “Tide” doesn’t appear on the standard edition of the album, but will be included on special edition vinyl pressings.

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