we're just different colors | biting the bullet

And when suddenly and unexpectedly you get a good vibe back. We carry each other.



See more of the Walk The Moon here.

different colors
we carry each other
we're just different colors
this is why we're biting the bullet
we know the kids are right

the ability of sharing the light

The Queen of generosity and good vibes couldn't be a better way of closing this day.

When you are gifted with voice or ability of playing an instrument that can speak to people, you gotta be able to share. It's about generosity. It's not up to you to keep it.

The song always speak to people because where it comes from is the place of light that doesn't belong to you, that we can't sell, you can't predict, we don't know when it's gonna come (...)

ANGELIQUE KIDJO WITH MANCHESTER WORLD VOICES CHOIR from Band on the Wall on Vimeo.


Please see other videos by Band on the Wall here. See also more project by The Space. To learn more about We Face Forward please click here.

the music of combat

Watching the documentary (Dimanche à Bamako) about Amadou & Mariam last Sunday, one artist came to my mind: Tiken Jah Fakoly. In the documentary Mariam stressed the importance of music in Africa saying that musicians have much more power of delivering messages to people than anyone else. Musicians are being listened to there. Their music is a weapon of waking up the awareness. This one from Tiken Jah Fakoly is absolutely the one to be shared. Take action against female genital mutilation and find out more here.

Bamako on my music map

Weekend intensively packed with both work (that actually didn't feel like work) and relaxation. A week without a weekend? Or perhaps a weekend that is still vividly echoing during the last minutes of Monday. Either way, it brought not only meetings with those I haven't seen in a while, but also marked distinctively new places on my music map. Bamako (sadly struck recently by these unfortunate events) brought to me music of a good  message and vibes. Please meet Amadou & Mariam and enjoy this fantastic animation.



The video was directed by Aurélia Vernhes, Clement Bolla and Laurent Gillot. For more credits see the details here.

good (night) songs from Cold Blue Kid

Speaking of Canadians, I was somehow brought to Broken Social Scene senses tonight thanks to this good discovery from Chicago: Cold Blue Kid. Don't they just sound a bit like BSS (in a good sense I mean)? I also think it's high time to establish a new label here: Canadian :). I was reminded about it by a surprise message from an old friend. Ironically it comes with the post on a Chicago band. Confusing. Not at all. Just logically connected through all the social circles we are involved in.



Check also Footloose Montana, a non-profit organization the band asks to support.

damas de blanco

So I skipped the Record Store Day yet I managed to get a Record Store Day release: the very white (well it's actually a bit creamy) vinyl version of Tegan and Sara's Get Along :). Sisters have never been much politically involved as these Damas de Blanco (although they have supported  PETA, Get Your Vote On and Warchild), but one must admit they definitely look good in white. It's a making-peace-with-yourself video. White video. Calming and peaceful. And so is the song. Even though it's sad I officially end the black spring of this year with it and put myself into summer mode (which means taking my white trousers out of the closet:)). Suddenly it all seems clear at this time of the year. Summer, I dare you to come!



Meet the director of video Angela Kendall.

Read more about Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White), an opposition movement in Cuba, and the Sakharov Prize the movement received in 2005.

I won't regret saying this thing that I'm saying
Is it better than keeping my mouth shut that goes without saying (...)

music and philanthropy

When good music meets a good cause my soul is satisfied. Arcade Fire, the best good imported from Canada, has been doing that since 2007 when it started working with Partners In Health, a non-profit health care organization based in Massachusetts.

Yesterday the band gave a lecture at the Univeristity of Texas at Austin (and somehow everything nowadays seems to be related to SXSW regions;)) about their support for people of Haiti. The band pleased the audience with a small performance that included "Haiti" and "Wake up" from their debut album. The last song brings to me a memory of summer 2011 and Arcade's phenomenal concert at SBSR in Portugal. And this brings me to yet another phenomenal performane of Arcade recorded five years ago... in the elevator and on the streets of Paris .

cause on the surface the city lights shine

This song was inspired by the book Mountains Beyond Mountains ... If you haven't read it yet you can pick it up here (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0812980557/?tag=partnersinhea-20), or at your local bookstore. Or if you would like to give to Partners in Health - the organization the book talks about - you can go here (https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/donate). 
Love, Arcade Fire (via Arcade Fire @Merge Records)



Please meet the director of the video Vincent Morisset.

these days, my life, I feel it has no purpose,
but late at night the feelings swim to the surface
cause on the surface the city lights shine,
they're calling at me: come and find your kind