Hello,
We are all emotionally broken by what is happening in Ukraine and Europe, and I am sure that many of you, in various ways, are doing your best to help stop the war, welcome refugees, etc. History has shown that music is a strong instrument of social cohesion, healing, and peace.
Luca Bassanese released, in 2019, the video clip
KEEP YOUR VOICE UP celebrating social volunteering in Europe. More recently, on February he has put online another clip
RESET. In
DEMOCRISISA, he was already denouncing months ago the growing gap between the social majorities of the world who see
AUSTERITY for the social majorities of the world as the best option to increase their gains. Some critics find the narrative too simplistic. At least, it does not kill - especially
KIDS.
I’m also thinking of
Ettore Castagna, one of the founders of the historical world music band from Calabria
RE NILIU, who declared in a recent interview for his new album
Ἐρημία/Eremìa (AlfaMusic/EGEA, 2022):
“I come from a generation of baby boomers who couldn’t think of music other than a personal political commitment. On the other hand, "the personal is political” we used to say. I kept such imprinting. I also say clearly in one of my songs that social justice does not exist but I continue to expect it.” I come from the same generation. Social justice is of course something you build day after day, by taking responsibility and putting forward the work to be done. It suggests you talk with your neighbors first.
Then, there is the Sicilian world music artist
Antonio Smiriglia who is reminding us in his new opus
“Amanti, Santi e Naviganti” (Aventino Music-Opensoundmusic, 2022) that we are all sailors on the same sea. And we all know that the sea is not always calm.
Let’s teach our children well!
Sincerely
Eric
