Teyana Taylor decided that she was done with music after the release of her 2020 project The Album and following her The Last Rose Petal 2…Farewell Tour in 2022. As fate would have it, though, music isn’t done with her. The multitalented creative has been in her acting and producing bag over the past few years, but after dropping the mic, she’s picked it back up with the announcement of her new album and accompanying short film Escape Room, both dropping in August.
To welcome her return to music and introduce her next era, the visionary artist premiered Escape Room’s cinematic trailer. Created by her production company The Aunties and rivaling that of any summer blockbuster, the trailer made jaws drop from Atlanta to Zaire. The short film is described as a “post-apocalyptic/futuristic, noir romance thriller,” and it co-stars Lakeith Stanfield and her rumored new man Aaron Pierre (That’s Mufasa).
It’s unclear what the plot is, but the trailer begins with Teyana and Lakeith exchanging wedding vows in the desert. They appear to be the picture of happiness before the scene and the tone quickly changes and the action begins. We see Taylor in distress, in various states of undress and in the care of Pierre, who looks to be experimenting on her. Teyana and Aaron aren’t beating the romance allegations with all the kissing and carrying on they’re doing in the trailer, which ends with him pulling a gun on her.
A voiceover proclaims, “Even love is something you must escape,” before the trailer completely fades to black. That quote is also included in the bio for a brand-new Instagram account, @EscapeRoomAlbum, that’s been created exclusively for the forthcoming album.
Select songs from the Escape Room album will be included in the mini-movie. According to press materials, “the short film acts as a visual representation of the album exploring the ombré effects of life’s journey from the darkness of all aspects of heartbreak (i.e. friendships, career, family, etc.) to the lightness of healing.” Given the tumultuous last few years that Teyana Taylor has endured, it sounds as though this collection may have been inspired by true events.
Teyana Taylor hasn’t shared release dates for either the Escape Room album or the Escape Room short film yet, but we are locked in. Watch the arresting trailer right here, and stay tuned for more to come from Teyana’s direction all summer long.
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