"No Light Yet" Animated Video Spotlights The Heroism Of Black Mothers Protecting Their Sons

During the protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd, celebrated Berkshire-based musician and Grammy-nominated writer and arranger Matt Cusson found himself driven to make a song that captured his frustration. He soon found an instrumental hook in his song “No Light Yet,” but he knew he needed collaborators, especially those of color, who could bring their lived experience to the concept. In the process he brought together a team of performers, artists and producers to make a song and music video that leaves a lasting impression.

Accomplished vocalist and fellow Grammy nom Jarrett Johnson took the inspiration and crafted lyrics about the seemingly endless struggle Black Americans endure in the face of systemic violence and needless murder at the hands of the police. Jarrett was then joined on the track by rapper and singer C Red, who pulled from her own experience for her moving guest verse. Now complete, the song "No Light Yet" felt important, and Cusson looked for ways to share it as far as possible. That meant reaching out to more friends at West Stockbridge-based production studio Outpost, to create an impassioned, animated music video.

“I was moved to address the consistent social justice issues and tragedies happening across the country," Cusson said. "After talking with my insanely creative friends, we produced a song and video with hopes of giving them a musical platform and outlet for issues they were facing within their communities, and I couldn’t be more proud of the outcome.”

The song is a powerful call for change that sadly acknowledges the reality that little has changed since the highly publicized killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, and so many others. Johnson is thinking a lot about the risk to children, especially these days as he and his wife expect their first baby very soon.

“As a Black man about to raise a Black child in America, it really put things in perspective,” Johnson said. “The video was born from fear for my daughter’s safety as she grows up, anger from countless senseless murders of unarmed Black people, and a feeling of hopelessness I fight against everyday. It weaves together the gifts of many with the hope that it invokes thoughtful discourse, serves as an agent of change, and inspires action toward true progress.”

While the musical team spanned the nation when it was time to make a video, Cusson immediately turned to the local Outpost. The husband-and-wife team of producer I’in Purwanti and director George Cox were given total creative control. The resulting animation follows the journey of a Black mother trying to protect her son’s life and optimism against monsters that anthropomorphize the risks Black children face in America. While the music video builds up hope in the viewer, its stark ending reminds all that there’s still “No Light Yet.”

After story boarding, Outpost handed animation duties to Kampoong Monster Studio in Purwanti’s home country of Indonesia. The video’s animation director, Alfi Zackyelle, was a college classmate of Purwant’s. Zackyelle shared how they both related to the video’s subject and the struggle for justice and civil rights.

“As Indonesians growing up under an authoritarian regime, we constantly lived in subconscious fear of the unknown,” he said. “Everything seemed fine on the surface, and then in college I learned how oppressive my country was under Suharto. I used art — my comics — to speak out about injustice. I know I'in from the Indonesian student movement, and we have collaborated before, but this project is extra special because it voices the oppression in America. My team and I have been overwhelmed by the stories of the Black folks being murdered, and the violence they face; it seems somewhat similar to what we felt during the past regime. We drew on these overwhelming feelings of anger, sadness, and hopelessness to create the animation so we can promote justice by portraying this injustice and provide a glimpse of hope to encourage positive change.”

“We want to be alied with this cause,” Purwanti added. “It’s in my genes to stand up to injustice.”

All involved on “No Light Yet” said the project felt important and hope the message resonates with audiences. It was just announced that "No Light Yet" has been selected to screen at film festivals in Charlotte and Toronto, and was nominated for Best International Music Video at the Music Video Underground in Paris. Johnson, Cusson and C Red are working on new projects as well as performing across the country. Likewise, Outpost is working on new music videos and other film projects while striving to build a creative community in their home-based studio.

As director, Cox said he was proud to be able to be a connection point between all the artists who worked on the project. “Nothing makes me happier than working with other artists. We have an amazing community of artists in the Berkshires.”