Here is a selection of newly released socially conscious music which is worth a listen.
Songs and Videos
Maria – grandson
“Maria” is a cover of a Rage Against the Machine tune which appeared on Rage’s 1999 album The Battle of Los Angeles. The lyrics chronicle the indignities faced by a Mexican undocumented immigrant. The recently posted video adds poignant visuals which update the tune into a scathing critique of Trump’s anti-immigration policies.
Heaven Application – Open Mike Eagle & Percy Miracles
This collaboration between Open Mike Eagle and Percy Miracles (the R&B singing alias of rapper Phonte), is taken from the socially aware comedy and music series The New Negroes. The show stars Open Mike Eagle and Baron Vaughn. The tune and video is a satirical examination of debt. It discusses being declined acceptance into heaven due to a low credit score.
Holy Elixir – Kate Tempest
“Holy Elixir” is the latest track from the UK spoken word artist upcoming album, The Book Of Traps and Lessons, due out June 14. The epic tune links the beginning of humanity with the current state of modern turmoil.
Albums
Omoiyari – Kishi Bashi
Bashi fourth album is a compelling concept album dealing with the Japanese immigrants who were thrown into American interment camps during the 2nd World War.
On the album’s Bandcamp page, Bashi explains the motivation behind the album: “I was shocked when I saw white supremacy really starting to show its teeth again in America. My parents are immigrants, they came to the United States from Japan post–World War II. As a minority, I felt very insecure for the first time in my adult life in this country. I think that was the real trigger for this project.”
Where Future Unfolds – Damon Locks – Black Monument Ensemble
This album started off as a sound collage where Locks took samples of different Civil Rights era speeches and accompanied them with a drum machine. It evolved to include a fifteen piece jazz ensemble which adds weight to the album’s empowering message.
Agitpop – Lowest of the Low
The sixth studio album by the veteran Canadian indie rockers is their most political.
“It’s been a while since I felt the need to take the small p in the politics of my songwriting and capitalize it. Probably not since the ’80s, when Reaganomics rankled and the threat of nuclear annihilation seemed to loom on the horizon,” lead singer and main songwriter Ron Hawkins said.
“But with fascism on the rise again throughout the world and with the steaming wreckage of Neo-Liberalism proving that it has no answers for the liberation of the world’s population it’s time to hit “caps lock” on that P once again.”
Lucid – Raveena
The soul singer’s debut album is more personal than political, but it does heavily touch upon themes of personal and female empowerment. It also features the heartfelt “Mama” which is an ode to immigrant mothers (such as her own mom who fled genocide in India).
Dépaysé’ – Sinkane
Sinkane’s family had to apply for asylum in America in order to escape an oppressive Sundanese dictatorship. The current anti-immigration stance of the Trump administration along with the fact that Sudan was one of the countries mention in the Muslim ban influenced the songs on his latest album.