“Fear is not so far from hate So if you get the folks to fear It only takes one small twist To kick it up a gear” The following lyrics are from “The Things We Do To Each Other”, a track off of Cowboy Junkies new album, All That Reckoning. That line is the perfect synopsis of the prevailing xenophobia […]
Learn more →On February 22, 2017, two Sikh immigrants Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani were murdered inside a Kansas restaurant by a racist who mistaken them for Muslims. This incident inspires guitarist Marc Ribot to compose the tune “Srinivas”. The song features vocals from Steve Earle and Tift Merritt. Much of the lyrics were ripped from news articles. Ribot made a statement concerning […]
Learn more →Very few musicians have had a more varied career than Alejandro Escovedo. He got his start in the 70s with the punk band the Nuns. From there his musical output ranged from alt-country, alt-rock, cowpunk and Chicano rock. His upcoming album The Crossing is due out September 14, 2018. It is a concept album about the experiences of two immigrants, one […]
Learn more →YUNGBLUD is the moniker of 19 year old English alt-rock musician Dominic Harrison. He recently released his full length debut album, 21st Century Liability. The album is full of protest songs written from the youth perspective. One of the more potent tunes off of the album is “Machine Gun (F**k the NRA)”. It analyses the stigma of mental illness and how […]
Learn more →“White man came across the sea He brought us pain and misery He killed our tribes, killed our creed He took our game for his own need” Those are the opening lyrics to Iron Maiden’s 1982 heavy metal classic “Run To The Hills.” The tune which deals with the European colonization of Native land, is giving a radical and poignant […]
Learn more →“London Is Burning” is the first single from Joe Strummer 001, a compilation of rarities and unreleased material which is due out September 28, 2018. Of course, Strummer is most known for his work with The Clash. As one of the most influential bands of all-time that was more than enough to ensure a lasting legacy. But his body of work […]
Learn more →American saxophonist Donny McCaslin is best known as being the bandleader on David Bowie’s final album, 2016’s Blackstar. He recently released “What About The Body”, the first single from his upcoming album. The tune features lyrics and vocals from Ryan Dahle. Dahle is a Canadian musician best known for being a member of alt-rock bands Age of Electric, Limblifter and Mounties. […]
Learn more →Part of what makes music so powerful is that it can take on a new perspective based on who is doing the singing. The 1965 The Beatles tune, “Drive My Car” is transformed into a female empowerment anthem when sung from the perspective of a Saudi Arabian women who previously was unable to legally drive. This reworking of “Drive My […]
Learn more →“Liberated” is the title track off of Detroit rapper Dej Loaf upcoming album. The tune also features soulful contributions from Leon Bridges. The celebratory music video begins with several people of color and LGBTQ discussing their viewpoints on liberation and freedom. From there DeJ Loaf kicks in with the opening verse which offers a shout out to the “the girls that don’t […]
Learn more →On August 9, 1997, Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant was brutalized and sodomized by New York police officers. The incident raised serious questions about police brutality and the treatment of immigrants. As a response to this glaring injustice, in 1998 Trinidadian calypso singer David Rudder composed and released the tune “The Immigrants”. Even though the tune was written with a specific […]
Learn more →