Victoria Monét serves up Herbs Ritts realness in her music video for “Reach Out”

Victoria Monét has FINALLY released a new song with a new video.

The creative partnership of Victoria Monét, Dave Meyers, Sean Bankhead gave us the video for “Alright”, which was incredible and one of the best music videos of 2023. (I cannot believe that shit came out 3 years ago). And they are at it again with another incredible music video.

The video for “Alright” stank of Michael and Janet Jackson, and the video for “Reach Out” does too. The videos for “In the Closet” and “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” immediately came to mind, and the Herb Ritts of it all is the reason why. Ritts shot both of these music videos, but was best known as a fashion photographer, and he predominantly shot in black and white and his photos often had this sepia like tone to them. There’s a high likelihood that any iconic black and white fashion photography that you’ve seen from the late 80s / early 90s, was probably shot by him. And I’m almost certain that he was an inspiration for the look of “Reach Out”.

Victoria Monét - Reach Out | RCA Records

It’s always cool to see known figures in the world of ballroom and dance show up in music video. Here we got ballroom icon Dashaun Wesley, who some may know as the host of the voguing reality competition show Legendary — who also starred in the music video for that doo-doo Lady Gaga and Doechii’s song “Runway”. Carlos ‘Basquiat’ Irizarry, who some may know as one of the dancers on Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour. And Danielle Polanco, who has been a music video girly for YEARS. Some may recognise her from the music video for Omarion’s “Touch”. Some eagle eye Beyhive members may even recognise her from the music video for Beyonce’s “Check On It”. And if you’ve not seen her face before, you’ve probably seen her work — as she choreographs for Addison Rae and Karol G.

Victoria Monét - Reach Out | RCA Records

One thing Victoria’s gonna do in a video is pay homage and give us references and it’s always cool to see. I’m always here for an artist who pays it back, whilst giving us something that feels very them. Although the Internet doesn’t seem to agree and feel Victoria has nothing of her own to offer. I’ve seen A LOT of comments online about how the video for “Reach Out” isn’t good. I’d pour one out for the people without taste, but I don’t wanna waste a perfectly good drink. This is a DAMN good video at a time when American music acts and record labels are slowly starting to care about music videos again. I better see this shit in VMA categories next year.

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