Watch John Legend's 'Daylight' Video
(ID) John Legend today released the music video for "Daylight," the lead single from his forthcoming album, Muse, out October 23 via Republic Records. Helmed by Grammy-nominated director and PRETTYBIRD co-founder Paul Hunter (The Notorious B.I.G., Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Pharrell Williams), the video places Legend at a piano in a dimly lit rehearsal studio, surrounded by dancers moving through moody, choreographed routines.
Legend announced Muse earlier this week following the live debut of "Daylight," which he performed from Nashville for CBS's America's Tailgate special marking the start of the NFL season.
Produced in full and co-written by GRAMMY Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated musician and filmmaker, philanthropist and Louis Vuitton menswear Creative Director Pharrell Williams, the album is the first project the two have undertaken together in more than two decades of friendship - a cinematic, lush body of work that weaves together the strands of Black music, from gospel and the standards to doo-wop, classic soul, Afrobeat and hip-hop.
The project took shape after Legend appeared on Clipse's comeback album Let God Sort 'Em Out, produced by Pharrell. Legend's vocal on the track "The Birds Don't Sing" inspired the producer to build an album around that voice. The two convened in Paris in January 2025, writing and recording out of Pharrell's studio at Louis Vuitton headquarters, where he serves as Men's Creative Director. The album draws on Nina Simone, Nat King Cole, and Marvin Gaye.
"Pharrell's idea from the beginning was that we would create something with all of these classic, cinematic elements, this Black James Bond aesthetic," Legend said, "but with a modern backbeat at its foundation. You can hear traces of me and traces of him, but it sounds like something new for the both of us. The combination of me and Pharrell, on paper, I think, is a good idea. And the execution is even better."
Muse is a true collaboration, and turning over that much creative control required a different kind of trust. "I recorded some songs on this album that he fully wrote, which I almost never do," Legend said. As the final mixes were submitted, Legend got a text from Pharrell: Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for your patience. "It's not about winning the argument or ego," Legend said. "It's about the music winning. Every battle should be won by the art."
Beyond the album, Legend is also at work on Imitation of Life, a new musical opening in December at The Shed in co-production with National Black Theatre, starring Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren as Delilah. Featuring a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and direction by two-time Tony Award nominee Whitney White, the production marks Legend's first original score for the stage, with Legend and Mike Jackson producing through Get Lifted Film Co.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]