The power of music, and its ability to invoke change, should not be underestimated as when an artist drops a track steeped in profound societal comments, it instantly becomes a fan favourite. And, this is most definitely the case with Josie Proto’s “I Just Wanna Walk Home”. Offering a narrative known all too well globally, the artist has penned a set of literal lyrics that depict the lack of safety felt by women when attempting to walk home. With the deeply emotive lyrics taking centre stage, the gentle strum of an acoustic guitar stands as the only instrumentation, meaning that Josie’s emotion-drenched vocals are left to carry the track forward.

Accompanying the song is a deeply moving music video. Calling on a diverse cast of women, the singer and her peers can be seen individually mouthing the artist’s lyrics. And, as the experience-driven words ring out, their sad universality becomes all the more evident as watchers are reminded of the harrowing state of society.

“When I first heard ‘I Just Wanna Walk Home’, I was actually making my way home late at night. I hadn’t even realised I was automatically clutching onto my keys as a precaution in order to make myself feel safe,” explains the music video’s director, Laura Marcus. “I think Josie’s song is such an important message, and hopefully one of the many stepping stones towards raising awareness and inspiring change. However, the real change doesn’t happen when us women talk to each other – it starts with greater education and judicial intervention. Men need to be having these discussions between themselves so that us women don’t have to endure this sense of fear for generations to come.”

Listen to “I Just Wanna Walk Home” below…