Exclusive | Markus Feehily’s new ‘Sanctuary’ video is a heartwrenching gay love story
By Will Stroude
Markus Feehily is continuing to prove his post-Westlife credentials as one of Britain’s most exciting pop acts with the release of rousing new single ‘Sanctuary’ – and we’ve got an exclusive premiere of the track’s shiny new video.
The follow-up to last year’s ‘Love Is a Drug’ and ‘Butterfly’ sees Markus’ roof-lifting vocals take on Sam Smith levels of soul, with stripped-down electro-backing and rousing gospel choiraccompanying backing the heartwrenching new video, which tells a timeless tale of repressed sexuality and gay love in London.
From Fractious Films, the ‘Sanctuary’ video stars rising British actors Jimmy Roye-Dunne and Oliver Silver, who put in some seriously moving performances as two guys grappling with their feelings for one another as one confronts his own sexuality – and Markus admits the idea for the visual was inspired by events in his own life.
“Basically I fell for a guy who wasn’t out”, the 35-year-old says. “It made me very frustrated because in the end even though we both loved each other we couldn’t be together because of his fear of coming out and facing his true self and more importantly what his friends and family would think.
“The video is covering a situation that’s very, very common in our world today and I think many people will relate to it.”
He continues: “The part where he’s in the bar pretending to date girls and being all ‘straight’ is sad because he’s messing the girl about as there’s no hope for that relationship. And the fact that he’s messing the gay guy around is equally sad because that relationship is doomed too as long as he is afraid to come out… basically nobody wins in this situation.”
‘Sanctuary’ is the third single to be lifted from Markus’ debut album Fire, and the former Attitude cover star will be takuin take the critically-acclaimed solo record on the road as he joins the legendary Wet Wet Wet on their national UK tour throughout February and March.
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