“We shot ‘What’s Going On’ in Detroit and Flint Michigan, we wanted a place that resonates with the song and the history of Motown, while also remaining relevant to the sociopolitical issues in the music video.
The music video took four days to shoot, but I traveled to Michigan a couple weeks early to find the right people.
In addition to Steve Smith, we had the opportunity to feature other influential community figures in our music video, including Karen Weaver, the mayor of Flint, and pivotal activists that have been involved in the Flint Water Crisis for many years.
One such activist in our music video is named Ariana Hawk, who, along with her young son, was featured on the cover of Time Magazine during the height of the water crisis.
My hope is that our music video will remind people to continue asking the question Marvin Gaye asked in 1971.”
