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News

Pearl Jam join activists in the fight against open-net salmon farming in Iceland

March 17, 2026 Shouts - Music from the Rooftops! Leave a comment

Seyðisfjörður bay in Iceland from up the mountains. Photo by Lode Van de Velde, who released the image under Public Domain license CC0 Public Domain.

The fight to preserve Iceland’s pristine wild fjords from industrial-scale salmon farming has gained the support of an unlikely ally, with the legendary Pearl Jam adding their voice to the growing fight against open-net salmon farming, a movement that is slowly gaining traction in the small island nation in the North Atlantic.

For several years, environmental groups and residents around Iceland have raised their concerns about the impact of open-net fish farming on the country’s marine ecosystems, which they claim are being polluted by the farms, causing disease in the country’s fish populations. Several cases of the farmed salmon escaping into the wild have also been documented, which can alter the genetic makeup of the country’s native salmon populations.

While the risk of damage to environments by farmed salmon that escape from fish farms, pollution, and parasites is a major cause of concern, new research also shows that large environmental impacts of farmed salmon in Iceland come not from the fish farms themselves, but from the global supply chain of ingredients used in fish feed.

The issue has become increasingly divisive, with a majority of the country’s residents opposing the growth of the industry.

This is not the first time that Pearl Jam has engaged in activism – the band has long been vocal about climate issues, including environmental activism, and has helped draw attention to issues that would otherwise not have been given much media coverage.

The battle against open-net fish farming in Iceland has already gained some high-profile support. Maybe the country’s most renowned musician, Björk, has previously helped raise funds for legal action against fish farming companies, bringing into focus the environmental risks that this industry poses.

The addition of Pearl Jam’s voice to this list of celebrity supporters of fish farming abolition is likely to bring this movement against fish farming in Iceland into greater focus worldwide. To the activists on the ground, gaining international support is of great importance.

The country’s fjords, considered some of Europe’s last remaining wild marine environments, are now on the frontline of this debate over how we can sustainably produce fish without sacrificing biodiversity.

According to a 2023 research paper, Iceland urgently needs better marine planning to battle both climate change and increased aquaculture. However, the current Marine Spatial Planning system (MSP) in the Westfjords is limited by weak public participation, a lack of transparency, and power imbalances that favor influential actors. To succeed, the system must become more inclusive, transparent, and proactive while addressing broader governance issues related to aquaculture regulation.

Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam. Photo by vazzz – published under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Those who have followed Pearl Jam throughout their career know that they’ve always used their music and their collective voice to help others. And while Icelandic people were perhaps not expecting help to come from this direction, it is definitely greatly appreciated.

On their website, Pearl Jam write:

“We stand with the people of Iceland to end open net salmon farming and protect Iceland’s biodiversity and coastal ecosystems for future generations.

Sign the petition at LetsUndoThis.com to stand with the 63% of Icelanders who oppose sea cages and urge Parliament to strengthen the bill by adding three guardrails:

✔️ Phase out sea cages

✔️ Stop new sea‑cage licenses

✔️ Transition to closed or land‑based systems

Every signature and share helps secure a stronger future for Iceland and wild Atlantic salmon.”

News

From rapper to political leader: 4 songs by Balen, Nepal’s future prime minister

March 16, 2026 Shouts - Music from the Rooftops! Leave a comment

Nepali rapper and Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah performing — Snapshot from the music video for “Balidan” by Balen.

When people think of protest music entering politics, the examples that usually come to mind are folk singers addressing different issues in their lyrics and sometimes even performing on the streets – surrounded by people demanding justice. One former hip-hop artist in Nepal did exactly that – only he took it a few steps further.

Balendra Shah, or Balen, is a musician who first rose to fame as a socially active rapper in the emerging Nep-hop scene (Nepalese hip-hop). His songs dealt with issues such as corruption and inequality and lifted up the voice of a generation of disenchanted young people in Nepal.

Nep-hop, Nepal’s growing hip-hop scene, emerged in the early 2000s and has increasingly become a platform for social commentary and political criticism among young artists.

Shah’s rise in politics began when he won a surprise victory as Mayor of Kathmandu in 2022, running as an independent candidate and defeating politicians from Nepal’s established parties. The win highlighted a major shift in the country’s political landscape, driven largely by younger voters seeking change.

Now, after his extraordinary journey from socially conscious artist to political reformer, Shah is expected to become Nepal’s next prime minister. His wild trip from underground rap battles to the top of national politics highlights just how powerful a vehicle for political change music can be.

Whether governing proves as powerful as his music remains to be seen. But if he does take office, Nepal may soon be led by a prime minister whose political vision was first delivered through music.

Here are four songs from the time Balen used a mic and a beat to effect change.

1. “Balidan” (Sacrifice)

One of Shah’s most famous songs, Balidan is an uncompromising attack on corruption in Nepalese politics. The track calls out leaders who, in Shah’s words, have betrayed the people they claim to represent.

The song resonated widely among young listeners who felt locked out of opportunity by a political system dominated by old elites. It quickly became an anthem for frustration with corruption and mismanagement.

2. “Ma Nepal Haseko Dekhna Chahanchu” (I Want to See Nepal Smiling)

While sharply critical of political leaders, this song carries a hopeful message. Shah imagines a Nepal where citizens live with dignity and opportunity rather than political instability and corruption.

The track’s vision of a better future made it particularly popular among youth activists and students calling for reform.

3. “Sadak Balak” (Street Child)

In Sadak Balak, Shah turns his attention to social inequality. The song tells the story of children forced to survive on the streets, shining a light on poverty and social neglect in Nepal’s cities.

The track showed that Shah’s political consciousness extended beyond party politics to broader questions of justice and human dignity.

4. “Nepal Haseko” (Nepal Smiling)

Another widely shared track, Nepal Haseko continues Shah’s theme of imagining a happier and more just country. Its hopeful tone contrasts with the harsh political criticism found elsewhere in his catalogue, but the underlying message remains clear: Nepal deserves better leadership.

The song has often been used at youth rallies and reformist gatherings, reinforcing Shah’s connection with a younger generation of voters.

News

I am still alive: Adib Ghorbani’s “Man Zendeam Hanooz” becomes a new anthem in Iran

March 10, 2026 Shouts - Music from the Rooftops! Leave a comment

A monochrome illustration of a person in a hoodie, head tilted back as smoke or mist rises above. The background features repeated script, creating a textured effect.

Across the world, protests have witnessed the power of music to become a rallying call and a beacon of hope. Chants turn into songs, and songs turn into anthems, all carrying the emotions of the people who might otherwise not have a platform to express themselves. In the past few years, the Iranian protest movement has seen the emergence of some incredible music that reflects the emotions of the people, including the pain, anger, courage, and hope they have managed to express through their songs.

Man Zendeam Hanooz: A Protest Song from Iran’s Resistance Movement

Among the latest additions to the growing list of songs and music emerging from the Iranian protests is the powerful protest song “Man Zendeam Hanooz” (“I Am Still Alive”) by Iranian composer Adib Ghorbani, with lyrics by Vienna-based, Iranian poet Pooyan Moghaddassi.

This song, released in the early part of 2026 and performed by Iranian music students and a choir, has already begun to circulate on the web and among the supporters of the Iranian pro-democracy movement.

The sound of a movement

To fully comprehend the effect of “Man Zendeam Hanooz,” it is necessary to briefly discuss the cultural context in which this piece emerged. Following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, Iran is facing one of the largest protest movements in its modern history.

As a result of this protest, which featured slogans such as “Woman, Life, Freedom,” the Iranian people challenged their government and expressed their desire for a change in their social and political systems.

In this context, music emerged as a key component of this protest movement. Perhaps the most famous piece of music to emerge from this protest is “Baraye” by Shervin Hajipour, a piece of music in which a variety of protest slogans were combined into a set of lyrics.

Man Zendeam Hanooz also emerged in this context, as the lyrics of the song are based on the slogans the Iranian people were sharing on social media in the aftermath of the recent internet shutdown. When people regained access to the internet, they started letting friends and family know: “I am still alive.”

Also read: How protest musicians became icons and targets in Iran’s Women, Life, Freedom movement

“I am still alive”

“Man Zendeam Hanooz” is a song that is performed in less than two minutes, but its brevity is part of its strength. The title is a powerful phrase, and on the most individual level, it speaks to survival – as thousands of Iranians have faced arrest or worse during the protests. But the phrase is more than that.

It is also a statement that speaks to the collective group as a whole. It is a statement that says even if people as individuals are silenced, they as a whole are still here. They are still alive.

Ghorbani writes on his Soundcloud page: “With the eternal memory of the homeland and dedicated to the noble people of Iran; to the courage that lives and the life and revolution that does not fade away.”

Art under pressure

However, the production of protest music in Iran is not without peril. Artists have been arrested, interrogated, and banned from professional practice. Some artists have opted to produce the protest music anonymously or from exile.

Despite the challenges, protest music is still being produced. This is due to the ease of disseminating the information through the internet, which helps the activists within Iran connect with the Iranian diaspora and the international community.

Thus, the protest music acts as a bridge for the Iranian people, the diaspora, and the international community, which is otherwise divided by the Iranian government’s censorship.

To artists like Ghorbani, the production of such protest music is a statement of intent. It is a statement that the government cannot control art, and that art is a powerful form of protest.

Also read: Iranian musician who was imprisoned for his music receives 74 lashes as part of his punishment

The power of a simple message

It is precisely because of its simplicity that “Man Zendeam Hanooz” is so compelling. It does not require any complex lyrics or storytelling. It is simply a declaration of existence.

In situations where people are uncertain and afraid, words like these are incredibly empowering. They remind people that resistance is not simply about acts of defiance, but also about determination – the determination to continue speaking, singing, and living, in spite of those who seek to silence them.

Throughout history, protest songs have been a key tool in this kind of resistance. Whether it is civil rights music, anti-war songs, or any other kind of protest music, it gives people a common language to speak in terms of resilience and determination. Ghorbani’s piece is a perfect example of this.

To those outside of Iran, the song “Man Zendeam Hanooz” is a window into the inner workings of the Iranian protest movement. While the headlines tell of conflict, arrests, or political pronouncements, the song represents another level of the protest movement.

Ultimately, the strength of the song is not in the tune itself, but in what the song represents. It represents the fact that in the midst of repression, people continue to make music, to sing, to proclaim their existence.