The idea for this album was born in early 2024 and it took almost a year to become a reality.
Watching the news every day with horror and despair, I kept asking myself: what is there to do? Direct action is one possible answer: going to demonstrations, sharing information on social media, keeping ourselves informed.
Then I thought, as a musician, I can also use my music as a tool of expression.
Songs stay in our memory; they evoke a time, a place, a situation, a mood. I hope that when listening to this album, people will remember the genocide carried by Israel in Gaza, but also how many of us, all around the world, stood in solidarity with Palestinians.
My goals with this record are rather simple. Firstly, to create a work of art that will help raise money for Palestinians to rebuild their lives. And secondly, to urge people not to turn away and to keep the conversation going.
I wanted to do this project with other musicians, people I respect and admire for their art and for who they are. And I wanted to keep it local, too, so the community (or at least part of it) would feel represented.
The album has 11 tracks and contributing artists include the Bellingen Singers choir (directed by Hayley Egan), Georgie Chorley, the group Reimagined (Lillie O’rourke, Oscar Eager, Otis Lyons, Louise Gore and Emiliano Beltzer), Katie Crane, Lttl Kng, Pablo Blitzer, Salvatore Rossano, Titan Sky, Joshua Szabo, Ali Shkaki and Louise Gore.
The artwork for the album, titled “Nunguu Jiindas” (Kangarooo Sisters) is by Gumbaynggirr artist Brentyn Lugnan.
The album is available only via Bandcamp at this link:
https://bellocollab.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-palestine
No one involved in this album is receiving any revenue. All the money collected will be donated to different aid organisations working in Palestine.
For those interested in knowing how is the money being distributed, there’s a link to a Google Doc on the Bandcamp page.
Thanks for listening and for sharing.
Emiliano Beltzer