NEWS, REVIEWS AND ACTIVISM
Belarus expands crackdown on musicians through “extremism” laws
The Belarusian government has doubled down on censorship of musicians and creative voices, using broad “extremism” laws to suppress dissidents since the mass protests of 2020. Music has become a ...
The sound of revolt
On his third album, Afro-Portuguese artist Scúru Fitchádu fuses ancestral wisdom with urban revolt, turning memory and militancy into a soundtrack for resistance ...
Filipino-American rapper, Bambu, fires truth on all cylinders on new album
Set against Fatgums’ tight, carnival-sounding production, the album unfolds like a house of mirrors, exposing a world where chaos and complicity blur together. Its purpose is both to confront and ...
Singing these songs can land you in jail
Three young Russian musicians from the band Stoptime were arrested in St. Petersburg for performing songs by artists labeled as "foreign agents." Lead singer Diana Loginova now faces charges related ...
Who was Delcat Idinco, the Congolese musician killed while filming his music video?
Delcat Idinco's music was critical of both the DRC government as well as rebel groups. Image taken from the X profile of the DRC Minister of Culture. His full name ...
Tunisia’s rap revolution: 5 women who are redefining hip-hop
In Tunisia's predominantly male hip-hop scene, women rappers have emerged as powerful voices post-2011 revolution, addressing issues of inequality and intersectionality. Scholars like Jyhene Kebsi analyze their lyrics, highlighting the ...
The troubling relevance of Woody Guthrie’s new album, released 58 years after his death
The release of Woody Guthrie's album Woody at Home, Vol. 1 & 2, showcases his enduring influence and activism in American folk music. Featuring known and unreleased tracks, it highlights ...
How Protest Musicians Became Icons And Targets In Iran’s Women, Life, Freedom Movement
The music by a few brave Iranian artists didn't just accompany protests, it helped propel them to levels that scared authorities, as explained in this article from RFE/RL ...
A brief history of Bella Ciao, the anti-fascist Italian song cited in the Charlie Kirk shooting
The article discusses the song "Bella Ciao," which symbolizes anti-fascist resistance, its origins, and its cultural transformations. It highlights its recent uses, such as in popular media, while addressing the ...
PROTEST MUSIC INTERVIEWS
Art, activism and the de-centering of self: An interview with Kardinal Bloo
Hailing from Texas, US, Kardinal Bloo is a young, versatile artist who brings a lot of colour to the current world of hip-hop, especially the colour blue. The album shines ...
“Speaking out politically is not just the artist’s right; it is imperative” – interview with Lisa Marie Simmons
For some people, music is a healing power, for some it is entertainment, and for others it is a life saving shelter. For Lisa Marie Simmons, music plays a role ...
Amplifying humanitarian perspectives through music: An interview with Fold.
The Fold crew is here to remind us that there are good things in this world that are worth fighting for. FOLD — from left to right: Sam Hutchison, James ...
EDITOR’S PICKS
Some favourite protest music albums of 2024
2024 is behind us. Like the years before it, horrible things happened in this world, and just like all the ...
I am little Iran, another name for displacement
My friend, the musician, is hiding from violent forces, when all he'd like to be doing is teach and perform ...
DJ General Strike’s Top 40 Protest Songs of 2023
A Top 40, end of the year list, of 2023's protest music made by Protest Tunes' DJ General Strike and ...
A Story Of A Young Afghan Musician
After NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, announced on April 14 2021 that the alliance had decided to withdraw its troops ...
Dread in the Air: A Conversation with Kyrylo Brener of Ukrainian post-hardcore band, KAT
In my attempts to connect with Ukrainian bands since the full-scale Russian invasion began on February 24th, several things have ...
Freemuse X Shouts Artist’s Voice: Cuban Visual Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara
Artist’s Voice is a collaboration between Freemuse and Shouts – Music from the Rooftops! The collaboration aims to provide a ...