NYS Music 202​2

Category: World/Reggae

  • Triveni take Albany Crowd on a Journey with Classical Indian Music

    The Swyer Theatre at The Egg played host to a sold out afternoon performance on Sunday, April 10 by Triveni, featuring three of the greatest musicians in Indian classical music – Zakir Hussain, Kala Ramnath, and Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh. The three musicians have been honored in India and abroad with numerous awards, and have collaborated for Triveni’s initial tour in North America.

    triveni

    The mixed crowd drew from the large South Asian population in the Capital Region, all captivated by the sonic experience the trio had to offer this afternoon.

    All three performers walked out shortly after 3pm, taking their seats behind their respective instruments. Hussain wished the crowd a happy Palm Sunday, and said that they were all very glad to finally be performing, which was greeted by loud applause from the audience. Ramnath and Kumaresh – wearing traditional saris – flanked Hussain on each side, with Ramnath playing violin to Hussain’s right and Kumaresh the Saraswati Veena.

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    Photo by Tammie Birdwell

    Hussain noted they would treat the performance as a train on a journey, stopping at different stations. Noting the North Indian raga tradition background of Ramnath, and the South Indian veena of Kumaresh, Hussain served as the bridge for the two to meet, culminating in hypnotic interplay between all three and, at times, duets between them.

    The combination of sounds from each of the stringed instruments joined with the tabla made for a consistent musical conversation, one with no breaks in between, just a constant flow from song to song. With the group’s name of Triveni derived from the mythical site of the union of three sacred rivers in India, the name was on point as a perfect one for this concert of musicians.

    triveni
    Photo by Tammie Birdwell

    In one segment, after 20 minutes of continuous interplay between Ramnath and Kumaresh, Zakir joined in after quietly observed the pair. As the collaboration progressed, Hussain used the rapid drumming of his fingers on the tabla to drive the tempo of the “train” quickly uphill. After taking a lengthy solo, Hussain was joined by once again by Ramnath and Kumaresh, bringing the performance to a ferocious close.

    triveni
    Photo by Tammie Birdwell

    After a slightly more than 90-minute set, the trio went out in front of their instruments to bow in appreciation to the audience. At this time, Hussain stepped back, allowing the women to soak in the appreciation from the Swyer Theatre audience.

    Triveni Tour Dates

    4/12/2022 Pittsburgh Cultural Arts Pittsburgh, PA
    4/14/2022 Sixth&i Washington, DC
    4/17/2022 Global Arts Live Somerville, MA
    4/19/2022 Davidson Theatre Columbus, OH
    4/20/2022 Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, OH
    4/23/2022 Indian Classical Music Circle Austin, TX
    4/24/2022 Wortham Center Houston TX

    Photos by Tammie Birdwell

    Triveni
    Triveni
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    Triveni

  • Mdou Moctar Brings Saharan Guitar Smoke Show to Colony Woodstock

    In 2017, the Washington Post published a story entitled “The Death of the Electric Guitar.” But you wouldn’t know it from the sell-out crowd that packed Colony Woodstock this past Monday night, March 21, for a masterclass in six-string sorcery by the acclaimed Nigerian guitarist/singer Mdou Moctar.

    For those not in the know, Moctar has been turning heads with his unique brand of African blues/psych rock since his 2008 debut disc, Anar. This astounding collection achieved popularity not via a savvy record company marketing blitz, but when it went viral over African cellphone music trading networks and when two of its tunes were included on the globally-distributed compilation, Music from Saharan Cellphones: Volume 1 (Sahel Sounds).  Moctar is the latest exponent of Tuareg Guitar Music, also known as Desert Blues, a fusion of rock, blues, psychedelia and ethno modal music popularized by tribal musicians in the Saharan region, particularly Mali, Libya, Algeria, Burkina Faso and Niger.  He is furthering a sound that first gained global popularity via the critically-acclaimed works of Ali Farka Toure and Tinariwen.

    Moctar is concluding a 25-concert North American tour in support of his sixth album, 2021’s Afrique Victime (Matador Records). This fiery collection has garnered rave reviews from the likes of NPR Music, Rolling Stone, Paste, Pitchfork and many more. Matador has just dropped an expanded edition with nine additional tracks, including a variety demos and live offerings, the setting where Moctar truly soars.

    Moctar’s set at Colony Woodstock was heavily weighted with tracks from his new album.  The show commenced with the album opener and its most streamed tune, “Chismiten.” Like many of the songs performed, this kicked off with some unaccompanied guitar, before the band joined in to propel Moctar’s vocals and lengthy solos with pulsing and very hypnotic beats.

    The signature of Moctar’s style is the switchblade bite emanating from his white Fender Stratocaster. Though he slings it lefty like Hendrix to whom he is frequently compared, his trebly tonality may be even more reminiscent of that of Telecaster-powered blues legend Albert “The Ice Man” Collins or the Lebanese born, modal-minded pioneer of surf guitar, Dick Dale – both inspirations to Jimi. Mdou Moctar also brings to my mind the great Black Rock Coalition associated guitarist Jean-Paul Bourelly (for more guitar thrills, check out his incredible disc, Rock the Cathartic Spirit).  Moctar’s sound is heavily phased and overdriven via a modest array of stomp boxes and his retro Roland Jazz Chorus amp, something not seen much since Andy Summers’ days in The Police.

    Moctar’s melodic style mixes Eastern-sounding modal scales with the blues punched up with psych/rock scream.  There are plenty of slurs, trills, hammer-ons and pull-offs, single string climbs and even some tapping, in a percussive more so than melodic Van Halen style. The most unique visual aspect of his style may be his picking. This seems to be accomplished solely with his index finger, which plucks away at the strings like a mad chicken one moment, then becomes an indecipherable blur when he unleashes rapid-fire passages. 

    The hour-long set at Colony Woodstock was a Saharan shred-fest. Many of the tunes again began with Moctar solo and featured him improvising at length and repeatedly, greatly stretching out of the songs featured on his newest album to the delight of the audience.  His music would not be anywhere near as powerful without the support of his band.  Drummer Souleyman Ibrahim and guitarist Ahmoudou Madassane provided a powerful steady and unflagging rhythmic platform upon which Moctar soared.  Bassist Michael “Mikey” Coltun, who has also served as Moctar’s producer since 2017, laid down a rich bottom with his Fender bass, just like Billy Cox in Hendrix’s Band of Gypsies. Kudos to Colony’s Max Siegel for providing impeccable sound and to owners Neil and Alexia Howard and booker Mike Campbell for bringing this intriguing offering to this intimate space. 

    Mdou Moctar and band brought the evening to a close with an extended version of their new album’s title track, “Afrique Victime.”  The track showcased the band’s tight unison playing on melody and stop-time passages and its hypnotic impact, as the tune stretched towards the 10-minute mark, with the rhythm section underpinning Moctar’s most frenetic, noisy and adventurous soloing of the night.

    Photo Gallery by Rob Yasinsac

  • Easy Star All Stars Announce Spring Tour, Brooklyn Stop

    Revered reggae band, Easy Star All Stars, has announced their Spring 2022 tour, with stops in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. Their Brooklyn show will be their first 4/20 show in the borough since 2015.

    Easy Star All Stars tour

    After taking a break from touring due to the pandemic, Easy Star All Stars is welcoming fans back with their favorite tracks, as well as some new material. The group will be performing full versions of their best selling album, Dub Side of the Moon, along with songs from Radiodread, Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Club and Easy Star’s Trillah.

    Special guests Jah People, The Far East and SunDub will add their own twists to the shows as they perform fan favorites like ‘Take Your Time’, ‘Magic Moments’ and ‘Close To Me’.

    Easy Star Allstars – Rock N Roll Resort

    Fans will also be happy to hear that the group has been working on their next tribute album, although it’s currently unknown which classic album has caught their attention. This latest release will be their first album since 2012. 

    Tickets for the tour are available now.

    Tour Dates :

    March 26 – Mt. Snow, VT – Mount Snow Reggaefest

    April 09 – Sugarloaf, ME – Reggaefest

    April 10 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East (Matinee show)

    April 20 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl (with The Far East and SunDub)

    April 21 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia

    April 22 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton

    April 23 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage

    May 14 – Tequila, MX – Akamba Festival

  • Triveni, performing Indian Classical Music, arrive at The Egg on April 10

    Zakir Hussain, Kala Ramnath, and Jayanthi Kumaresh will come together for the first time as a trio for the 2022 Triveni tour. They will make a stop at The Egg in Albany on Sunday, April 10 at 3pm, as part of The Egg’s Rhythm International series.

    These leading Indian classical exponents of their respective instruments – tabla, violin and Saraswati veena – are each also renowned as a virtuoso collaborator, pathbreaker and educator, advancing the art of their particular instruments to remarkable levels in the context of their classical traditions and beyond.

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    The musicians have been honored in India and abroad with numerous awards, and each has successfully toured all over the world with their own acclaimed solo projects. 

    The name Triveni derives from the mythical site of the union of three sacred rivers in India, and the name aptly represents the confluence of the varied musicalities which the three maestros bring to this collaboration. A hallmark of Zakir Hussain’s iconic career has been his groundbreaking work at the forefront of brilliant musical dialogues between Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian) music.

    With Kala Ramnath, an innovative representative of North Indian raga tradition, Jayanthi Kumaresh, the leading exponent of the ancient South Indian veena, and Zakir Hussain seamlessly stitching North and South Indian rhythm traditions to provide a bridge for veena and violin to meet, Triveni promises to be a fluent, joyous and entirely original musical conversation, a sonic experience of the highest order. 

    Zakir Hussain 

    The pre-eminent classical tabla virtuoso of our time, Zakir Hussain is appreciated as one of the world’s most esteemed and influential musicians, one whose mastery of his percussion instrument has taken it to a new level transcending cultures and national borders. Along with his legendary father and teacher, Ustad Allarakha, he has elevated the status of the tabla both in India and around the world. 

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    He is the recipient of countless awards, including two Grammys, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and Officier in France’s Order of Arts and Letters. Voted “Best Percussionist” by both the Downbeat Critics’ Poll and Modern Drummer’s Reader’s Poll over several years, Zakir was honored with SFJazz’s Lifetime Achievement Award at their 2017 Gala for his “unparalleled contribution to the world of music.” 

    Kala Ramnath 

    Maestro Kala Ramnath with her “Singing Violin” stands among the world’s finest, most inspirational instrumentalists. Most significantly in an Indian context, in May 2017, she was awarded the illustrious Sangeet Natak Academy Puraskar for her contributions to the violin in Hindustani Classical Music.   

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    Born into a dynasty of prodigious musical talent, one which has given Indian music such violin legends as her paternal uncle Professor T. N. Krishnan and paternal aunt Dr. N. Rajam, Kala’s violinistic vision began manifesting early. Recognizing her innate talent, her astute grandfather, Vidwan A. Narayan Iyer, took her under his tutelage. 

    Acknowledged as a virtuoso of staggering proportions, Kala has performed at the most prestigious music festivals in India. She has appeared on world stages including the Sydney Opera House, Paris’s Théâtre de la Ville, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, Singapore’s Esplanade, New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Rudolstadt Festival in Germany, and the Edinburgh Music Festival in Scotland. 

    Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh 

    With her mesmerizing glides, the timing and purity of her notes, and her soulful playing, Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh has been captivating audiences around the world for thirty years and is one of the leading Veena (roughly, the Indian lute) artistes today.

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    Apart from several prestigious venues and festivals in India, Jayanthi has performed at many international festivals, including the San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Darbar Festival, the Queensland Music Festival, the Darwin Music Festival, and the Adelaide Music Festival, and at prestigious venues such as the United Nations in New York, the Palladium, Indiana, the Théâtre de la Ville, Paris, and the Northwest Folklife Festival, Seattle. 

    Blending the traditional and the innovative in her music in terms of content, technique, virtuosity, and expression, Jayanthi seeks to express the true voice of the Veena, which transcends the boundaries of language and region. 

    Tickets for The Egg performance of Triveni are available here.

    Triveni Tour Dates

    3/24/2022Mount BakerBellingham, WA
    3/26/2022Seattle Theatre GroupSeattle, WA
    3/27/2022KalakendraPortland, OR
    3/29/2022Museum of Instruments Phoenix, AZ
    3/31/2022BYU Provo, UT
    4/2/2022University Wyoming Laramie, WY
    4/5/2022Walton Arts Center Fayetteville, AR
    4/7/2022University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA
    4/8/2022McCarter Theatre Princeton, NJ
    4/9/2022NJPACNewark, NJ
    4/10/2022The Egg Albany, NY
    4/12/2022Pittsburgh Cultural Arts Pittsburgh, PA
    4/14/2022Sixth&i Washington, DC
    4/17/2022Global Arts LiveSomerville, MA
    4/19/2022Davidson Theatre Columbus, OH
    4/20/2022Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, OH
    4/23/2022Indian Classical Music Circle Austin, TX
    4/24/2022Wortham Center Houston TX
      

  • Rosalía performs “Chicken Teriyaki” and “La Fama” on SNL

    Spanish singer Rosalía served as musical guest for this week’s episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by The Batman star Zoë Kravitz.

    Following a TikTok influencers-meet-President Biden cold open, Kravitz was joined by various Cat Women and Katt Williams (Chris Redd) in her monologue.

    Rosalía began singing at age eight, graduated from Barcelona’s Catalonia College of Music with a degree in the Flamenco arts (with studio album Los Ángeles serving as her graduate project) she has appeared in Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory. Shortly after, Rosalía and her sister Pili launched a brand, gained a massive following in Spain and in 2018 was signed to Sony Music.

    The evening’s performance marked Rosalía’s solo debut on SNL, having performed in 2021 alongside Bad Bunny for a duet of their romantic collaboration “La Noche De Anoche.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EEyiB9NtVg

    The 28 year old Flamenco singer first performed the Latin trap song “Chicken Teriyaki” off the upcoming release Motomami, a track that is prime for TikTok at a run time of only 2:02.

    The lyrics reference various parts of New York City: “De azúcar la mami, todo sin recibo/Leo pentagrama’, pero no lo’ escribo./Desde Queens hasta Tribeca/Un ramo de flore’ azule’ no se seca.” Translated to English the lyrics read: “The mami made of sugar with no receipts/I read pentagrams but don’t write them./From Queens to Tribeca/a bouquet of blue flowers that doesn’t die.)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAtUnqdTz2g

    Her second song of the night “La Fama,” is a collaboration with The Weeknd (who did not make an appearance on the Studio 8H stage this evening.) Wearing a large comforter, Rosalía resembled Baymax from Big Hero 6, before ditching the puffy outer layer to reveal a white dress and shawl.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnItVv1EsXw

    Both songs performed his evening will be featured on the upcoming Motomami, the follow up to her 2018 album, El Mal Querer. The Latin GRAMMY-winner told Rolling Stone in an interview that the new album would include both experimental and vulnerable material, with a big emphasis on the theme of feminism.

  • Wake up to Kyngjo ‘Six in the Morning’

    Queens crooner Kyngjo is back with his latest summer anthem with the Utopian single “Six in the Morning.” Featuring fellow afrobeat/hip hop artist, LAFROMNEWYORK, the Ghanian duo paint a blissful reminder of the entrapments of a passionate romance. 

    “Six in the Morning” is a catchy record that sees both artists showcase the kind of artistry that creates stars. Kyngjo starts off with his charmed delivery of a jaded womanizer.

    “When she hit me on my line I can’t help but to count all me pesos. When she tell me she want diamonds I buy double cause I can’t really say no.”

    “I could show you what it’s really like. 3 a.m. on the hill that’s my vibe. But baby I can’t stand the way that these girls lie,”

    he whispers as he sets the tone for the well-known tale of men, women and money. LAFROMNEWYORK brings the afro inspired vibe full circle, seamlessly interloping with Kyngjo. 

    This is a strong effort as Kyngjo builds anticipation for his upcoming debut EP. The Lefrak native is hitting his stride, as he seems to be even more sure of his own sound. His best records have seen his show his most potential. Songs like “Need Em” and “I’m Good Luv” are both stolid records. 

    “Six in the Morning” has nice replay value as the summer nears. 

  • Memorial Meltdown to take place this May in Lake George with Twiddle and Frends

    The 2022 summer concert season will kick off on Memorial Day weekend with Twiddle & Frends at the inaugural Memorial Meltdown. Scheduled to take place at the Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in downtown Lake George on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29, the Memorial Meltdown will feature two sets each night by Vermont jamband Twiddle, along with performances by Lucid, Marble Eyes and the Whiskey Dicks (with special guests Ryan Dempsey of Twiddle and guitar virtuoso Joe Cirotti) on Saturday and Roots of Creation, Sophistafunk and Baked Shrimp on Sunday.

    Memorial meltdown

    The two-day event, produced by the same folks who bring the Labor Day music extravaganza Adirondack Independence Music Festival at the same location, will also feature a variety of food and craft vendors.  Gates open each day at 1:30pm with music set to begin at 2:30pm and run until about 11pm. 

    Now in their 17th year, Twiddle has built an impressive resume spanning Red Rocks to Bonnaroo, and multiple sellouts of historic rock venues across the country. In the live setting, more and more people are invigorated by Twiddle’s community, promoting positivity and the band’s skillful improvisational music. So many like-minded people believe in the greater good, and they find that good in Twiddle, who donates $1 of every ticket sale to The White Light Foundation, Twiddle’s affiliate 501c3 organization.  The White Light Foundation, in turn, makes financial contributions to non-profits local to where the band is playing. 

    Memorial Meltdown Schedule

    Saturday, May 28

    Twiddle (2 sets)
    Lucid
    Marble Eyes
    The Whiskey Dicks featuring Ryan Dempsey & Joe Cirotti

    Sunday, May 29

    Twiddle (2 sets)
    Roots of Creation
    Sophistafunk
    Baked Shrimp

    Tickets for the all-ages event go on sale Friday, March 4 at 10:00am. Single-Day and 2-Day General Admission Tickets and a limited number of VIP tickets are also on sale. For more info visit memorialmeltdown.com.

    *VIP tickets include: Admission to the show, a meal, snacks, half-priced adult beverages, $2 waters / soft drinks, access to a VIP viewing area (with private bar) and access to VIP bathrooms.

    ** $1 per ticket supports The White Light Foundation, Twiddle’s affiliate 501c3 organization. The WLF makes financial contributions to non-profits local to where the band is playing each night.

  • Sebastián Yatra To Play At The United Palace in October

    Celebrating the release of his third studio album, Colombian singer-songwriter Sebastián Yatra announced that he will tour the United States and Puerto Rico this fall. The international sensation will pass through New York City on October 8th playing at The United Palace in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.

    Sebastian Yatra
    Photo by Guillermo Legaria/Getty Images for Disney

    Yatra first came into the public spotlight in 2013. Since then, his subsequent releases have pushed him further and further towards superstardom. His debut album, Mantra, peaked at number one on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums Chart. Fantasía was released a year later and highlights his sustainable growth as an artist receiving international attention. Dharma, his newest studio album, continues to show his prestige and talent.

    Yatra’s discography meshes all the parts of love that are intimately beautiful, boldly passionate, and occasionally difficult. His songs speak to “el corazón y la alma,” and his tantalizing voice traverses through even the strongest of language barriers. Yatra also tells stories in his songs, and “Un Año” showcases this ability magnificently. The artist is in his most successful days and one can only root for these days to be infinitely extended.

    Sebastián Yatra ‘Dharma World Tour’ North American Tour Dates: 

    Thursday, Aug 25 – Houston, TX @ Smart Financial Centre 

    Friday, Aug 26 – Irving, TX @ Toyota Music Factory 

    Saturday, Aug 27 – Hidalgo, TX @ Payne Arena 

    Sunday, Aug 28 – San Antonio, TX @ Freeman Coliseum

    Wednesday, Aug 31 – Laredo, TX @ Sales Auto Arena

    Friday, Sep 2 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theatre

    Saturday Sep 3 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena

    Sunday, Sep 4 – Inglewood, CA @ YouTube Theatre

    Wednesday, Sep 7 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre

    Thursday, Sep 8 – Portland, OR @ Keller Auditorium

    Saturday, Sep 10 – Las Vegas, NV @ Chelsea Theatre at Cosmopolitan

    Sunday, Sep 11 – San Jose, CA @ San Jose Civic

    Thursday, Sep 15 – Rosemont, IL @ Rosemont Theatre

    Saturday, Sep 17 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell

    Sunday, Sep 18 – Toronto, ON @ History

    Thursday, Sep 29 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre

    Friday, Sep 30 – Orlando, FL @ Dr. Philips

    Saturday Oct 1 – Miami, FL @ FTX Arena

    Friday, Oct 7 – Washington, DC @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor

    Saturday, Oct 8 – New York, NY @ United Palace

    Sunday, Oct 9 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre

    Saturday, Nov 12 – San Juan, PR @ Coca Cola Music Hall

    Tickets for the general public go on sale on February 25th at 10 am on Ticketmaster. For more information, visit Ticketmaster or sebastianyatra.com

  • Japan Society To Host Shomyo Buddhist Ritual Chant Shows

    Beginning February, Thursday the 24th and through February, Sunday the 27th, Shomyo Buddhist Ritual Chant: Spiral Mandala Ceremony will take place at Japan Society.

    Japan Society

    Japan Society was initially formed in 1907 to promote relations between the US and Japan. Since then, it has transformed into a metropolitan epicenter for the promotion of Japanese arts and culture throughout NYC. Due to social distancing guidelines, the event will take place over 12 different shows, with a maximum of 30 seats per show.

    The event will be a deeply immersive theatrical experience. Audience members will sit on cushions placed on the stage floor and listen to shomyo, a ritual form of a Buddhist chant that is believed to have originated in India. After traveling through the Silk Road the ancient form made its way to Japan, where it has been practiced ever since.

    Shomyo no Kai—Voices of a Thousand Years, a group of two dozen priests, will be performing Yu Kuwabara’s shomyo piece “Spiral Mandala Ceremony”. Alongside Shomyo no Kai, Brooklyn-based media designer Tei Blow will deliver stunningly hypnotizing visuals. The three parties in synthesis will create a sensory experience not worth missing.

    Performance dates

    Thursday, Thursday, February 24 – Shows at 6 pm and 8 pm

    Friday, February 25 – Shows at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm

    Saturday, February 26 – Shows at 2 pm, 4 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8:30 pm

    Sunday, February 27 – Shows at 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm, and 7 pm

    Tickets are priced at $15. For more information, visit here.

  • Tom Morello and Beth Hart join The Miraculous Love Kids for New Song, “God Help Us All”

    On February 18th, 2022, Afghan girls’ music group, The Miraculous Love Kids, release their brand-new recording, “God Help Us All,” featuring artists Tom Morello, John Ondraski (Five for Fighting), Beth Hart, and more.  

    Afghan girls' music group, The Miraculous Love Kids
    Afghan girls’ music group

    When facing the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban on August 15th, 2021, many new challenges started to arise for the country’s people. The Miraculous Love Kids, being a non-profit organization, served as Afghanistan’s only school of music where guitar lessons were taught to war-torn, poverty-stricken girls who were greatly affected by this devastation.  

    The members issued the following statement: “Today, our lives are in great danger as the success we achieved in becoming part of an international cultural scene has now marked us for persecution.” 

    The group’s founder and director, Lanny Cordola, recorded multiple songs including “God Help Us All” weeks prior to this event, then all the group’s activities came to a halt. “It has been a hellish past six months trying to evacuate and relocate the girls and their families,” Cordola says. “Tom Morello’s soul hymn perfectly encapsulates this feeling.” 

    Lanny Cordola, The Miraculous Love Kids’s founder and director
    Lanny Cordola, the group’s founder and director

     
    He adds, “The convergence of all these talents truly shows how music can unify artists from different idioms and cultures to lend their voices to the vulnerable, marginalized suffering souls of the Earth. I also feel this song reaches out to the inner ache that so many are feeling these days. Tom has been a Godsend to the girls and I on so many levels. He allowed us to rearrange his composition to fit the girls’ style of singing and playing, which was very generous of him. He also enlisted Serj Tankian and Nandi Bushell.”  

    When informed about the situation, both Tankian and Bushell were immediately on board. 

    While he prepares for future music, Cordola’s primary focus is to find safety for the girls and their families. Today, Afghan’s face famine and food insecurity, and one million children are at risk of starving to death unless international aid intervenes. 

    “We appeal to the international community, to diplomats, politicians, news media and art institutions as well as NGOs to respond to this dire situation,” he stresses. 

    By recognizing the urgency of the situation, Tom Morello is hopeful this song will help create more awareness for The Miraculous Love Kids and their current situation. “God Help Us All” is a song both for and with some incredibly special girls in Afghanistan who are in grave danger.