Tag: music

AUG 27, 2013 - A band that was interviewed several times by JTMP in the early days, the Indigo Girls are one of our favorites here at JTMP. MLive.com has a post up about how they are playing at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park on September 5, 2013, and it is said to be one of the best venues in the state. The interview delves into their activism and music, and the difficulty of finding a balance between the two. Amy Ray says, "We just try to engage people to think about their own communities and what they can do. We make it clear that we respect people that don't agree - it takes all approaches. Our audience is pretty receptive and open." Read the entire article on MLive.com here. (photo credit: JTMP)

AUG 27, 2013 - The Jakarta Post has a great article up by Prodita Sabarini on Indonesian activist-musician Heri "Ucok" Sutresna and his work as the band "Homicide". His band, which is in the midst of dissolving and Heri is pursuing solo work, sang against dictatorship, military violence, consumerism and more. The interview delves into his pursuit of opening a progressive bookstore in Indonesia, and how he got involved in activism, politics and music. Listen to a track from Homicide titled, "Puritan God-Blessed Fascists" here; and check out the interview on The Jakarta Post here.  (photo credit: JP/Prodita Sabarini)

AUG 27, 2013 - Despite the massive unrest currently in Egypt, the Hayy Music Festival that features women Arab singers, poets, puppeteers and more, was held on July 18 through August 2, 2013 by Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy (Cultural Resource); a Cairo-based non-profit encouraging diversity and cultural exchange between Arab countries. This year's festival featured women singers from many different countries; such as Morocco, Algeria, Iran, Tunisia, Syria, Spain and more. They sang Palestinian folk songs, classical Arab music and even some pop and rock. Read about all these exciting women singers and the festival on Ahram.org here, and also check out the Al-Mawred's website here. Watch this great music video and awesome song "You" from one of the performers, Moroccan Khansa Batma " below with Unia. Watch the video all the way to the end! Great ending!

AUG 27, 2013 - Activist, actor, Tech Grad and now the New York City Council. Jumaane Williams, whose art is acting and appeared in several Hip Hop music videos, has always been involved in his community and his activism. From addressing the problem of affordable housing in New York City, to the un-Constitutional and racist "Stop and Frisk" policy that overwhelmingly targets inner-city blacks and Hispanics; he has been out there on the front lines fighting the good fight. Mr. Williams is a Native Brooklyn, and early on appeared in Hip Hop music videos for EPMD and Solo; and in 2009 he got elected to the New York City Council as a Democrat that represents Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands and parts of Midwood and Canarsie. Mr. Williams helped shepherde two bills that reined in the "Stop and Frisk" policy. Check out his City Council page here, and read more about him on NYDailyNews.com here.  (photo credit: council.nyc.gov)

AUG 24, 2013 - Activist-musician Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame has written an open letter to fellow musicians asking them to stand with him and boycott Israel for the Apartheid-type treatment of Palestinians living in the West Bank. Their lives are totally disrupted as a result of Israel's illegal and hostile takeover of native lands for their "settlements". In the letter Waters touches on a lot of subjects. He mentions the Trayvon Martin shooting and how he applauds Stevie Wonder for taking a stand against Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law and his call to boycott Florida. Waters explains how for the past 8 years he has been part of BDS, or Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, "a non-violent movement to oppose Israel's occupation of the West Bank and violations of international law and Palestinian human rights". He has pronounced they have found Israel guilty, "independently, by international human rights organizations, UN officials, and the International Court of Justice, of serious breach of International law."

Roger Waters states the obvious, that our governments and the United Nations are unable or unwilling to act, so "it falls to civil society and conscientious citizens of the world, to dust off our consciences, shoulder our responsibilities, and act." Read the whole letter on ElectronicIntifada.com here. What do you think? Leave a comment or start a conversation on our Justice Through Music Facebook Page.  (photo credit: Takver/CC)