Chris Brown takes a walk across the desert in his new video for “Don’t Wake Me Up.” No, Rihanna is not featured in the clip. The woman he’s following in the flowing white dress is model Araya Nicks. Who?
The new single is off of Brown’s upcoming album Fortune. “I’m on 106 tomorrow! Dropping off a new video!!!” he Tweeted yesterday.
The video was directed by Colin Tilley, who has worked with Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Diddy and Usher.
Tilly is Brown’s go-to man for videos. The two have worked on more than a dozen together in the last two years including every single except one on his gold certified album F.A.M.E.
The clip opens with Brown silhouetted against a burnt orange setting sun on a barren landscape. “Dearly Beloved, If this love only exists in my dreams, don’t wake me up,” a female voice intones. Is that Araya?
The scene cuts to Brown getting out of bed and catching a fleeting glimpse of a woman in white vanishing out the door of his room. He follows and ends up trekking across the desert after her.
Brown, 23, follows Nicks in a dream-like state in the the sky, amid fast-moving clouds above a city.
His album is due in stores July 3rd. Check out the video below.