AMPLIFY PALESTINE announces
Rise Up: BDS Mixtape Volume 2
Available on all platforms November 3
contact: media@amplifypalestine.org
About the album
Rise Up: BDS Mixtape Volume 2 presents sixteen tracks from artists that proudly support Palestinian liberation. Spanning musical styles from across the globe and often blending genres including hip-hop, jazz, and rock, the contributions capture the creative connections, joyous energy, and meditative reflection that fuel freedom struggles. Rise Up is the second volume in Amplify Palestine’s BDS Mixtape series, which, inspired by the 1985 Sun City album by artists boycotting apartheid South Africa, brings together musicians who support boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) as a tactic to pressure Israel to respect Palestinian human rights.
Mixtape proceeds support cultural initiatives in Palestine.
Rise Up is co-produced by db, Nick Cooper, Shalva Wise, and Sonny Singh. Cover art by Elias Rischmawi.
Listen to Rise Up: BDS Mixtape Volume 2 (PRIVATE PREVIEW / FOR PRESS)
LINER NOTES
From Palestine to New York to Hawai’i, club banger to rock to hip-hop, BDS Mixtape Volume 2 is a call to artists and audiences to Rise Up for Palestinian freedom — and the response resounds: a declaration of the deep knowledge that none of us is free until all of us are free.
As we write, Israel has intensified its years-long siege of Gaza, cutting off electricity, water, and fuel, and preventing food and medical supplies from entering — all while unleashing a massive aerial assault. In just the first six days, Israel dropped six thousand bombs on the world’s largest open-air prison, and Israeli leaders have made it clear that this is only the beginning — openly signaling the intent to commit mass atrocities. It is a terrifying escalation of a long campaign of erasure through dispossession, racist laws, and cultural repression, as well as military and state-backed settler violence. We must rise up against the denial of Palestinians’ right to live in freedom in their homeland.
By raising our voices and instruments to protest occupation, dehumanization, genocide, and vengeance, we broadcast a message to Palestinians and the many Israelis who have joined in the struggle for a future with justice and equality: We are with you. We will not be complicit in allowing art to be used in service of an apartheid state. Our creativity is in the service of liberation. We are cultivating connection. We are inviting reflection. We are intrepidly insisting on joy.
We have power.
BDS Mixtape* celebrates and builds upon historic global solidarity mobilizations like DJs for Palestine and Musicians for Palestine; groundbreaking productions like Palestine Music Expo and Boiler Room Palestine; benefit compilations like It’s Not Complicated and Never A Land Without People; musicians respecting the boycott like Sam Smith, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Buddy Guy, BadBadNotGood, and Big Thief; and so many other artist actions and grassroots campaigns. With growing momentum, we surge past the anti-Palestinian gatekeepers and their attempts to silence us, to amplify Palestine far and wide.
Though we release this album in far different circumstances than when we first began gathering contributions, we remain steadfast in our vision of exuberant solidarity with Palestine not just in times of extreme crisis, but also in the ongoing creative work of collective liberation.
The vibrant album art by queer Palestinian artist Elias Rischmawi reminds us: Palestinians have been creatively resisting repression for decades. When not only their flag was forbidden but even artwork with its colors, Palestinians defied the colonist censors. The watermelon has become a symbol of that defiance and a worldwide icon of solidarity.
Let this art lift us.
Let our solidarity resound.
Let us rise up for justice – for a world where all are free.
– Amplify Palestine’s BDS Mixtape production team
* Palestinians have called on people of conscience to use boycott, divestment, and sanctions to pressure Israel to end its occupation and colonization of Palestinian lands, recognize the right of Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality, and respect the right of Palestinian refugees to return home.
LABEL
AMPLIFY PALESTINE is a new music label established by Adalah-NY to bring together artists who proudly support Palestinian liberation. Inspired by the 1985 Sun City album from artists boycotting apartheid South Africa, the label is part of a larger campaign with the same name that has an accompanying website where people can learn about cultural boycott and how to participate: www.amplifypalestine.org
MEDIA
The label’s first release, People of Eternity: BDS Mixtape Volume 1, was covered in FADER, Resident Advisor, DJ Mag, Mixmag SoundCloud, and Bandcamp Daily: Essential Releases.
Press release available here
Image files, artist quotes, and PDF version of press kit available here
Rise Up: BDS Mixtape Volume 2 available for pre-order on Bandcamp
For artist interviews and other inquiries: media@amplifypalestine.org
FULL CREDITS
El-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe, “Folktronic Mafraq Haifa.” Mixed by Ehab Haniyah.
Free Radicals, “Checkpoint / Dompass / Hajiz” feat EQuality, Jitsvinger, Prince Alfarra & Lindi Yeni. Vocals and lyrics by Lindi Yeni, EQuality, Prince Alfarra, Jitsvinger; musicians: Nick Cooper, Blind Teo Bijarro, Pete Sullivan, Chris H., Brian H., Subhendu C., Jason Jackson, Jon Durbin, Tom V., Harry Sheppard, Kelly D.
Red Baraat, “Halla Bol.” Music composed by Sunny Jain; lyrics by Ali Mir; Sunny Jain – dhol, Rohin Khemani – percussion, Tomas Fujiwara – drumset, Arun Luthra – soprano saxophone, Mike Bomwell – baritone saxophone, Sonny Singh – trumpet, MiWi La Lupa – bass trumpet, Smoota – trombone, John Altieri – sousaphone.
Alsarah & the Nubatones, “Men Ana.” Written and performed by Alsarah & the Nubatones.
Rupa & the April Fishes, “Stolen Land.” Music and lyrics by Rupa Marya; voice – Rupa Marya; piano – John Eichenseer. Mixed by Damion Gallegos at CHUB Studio. Mastered by Howard Weinberg.
Mike Dillon, “Grandfather Clock.” Written by Mike Dillon; Mike Dillon - vibes and percussion; Earl Harvin – drums; Brooks Hubbert – guitar; Nathan Lambertson – bass.
Gabriel Teodros, “An Open Letter to My Cousins in Israel.” Lyrics by Gabriel Teodros. Produced by Moka Only. Mixed by Dume41 & Moka Only.
Afro Yaqui Music Collective, “Insurrealista.” Ben Barson – baritone saxophone, contrabass clarinet, composer; Nejma Nefertiti – emcee and lyricist; Gizelxanath Rodriguez – vocalist; Beni Rossman – electric bass and producer; Roger Romero –tenor saxophone; Alec Zander Redd – alto saxophone; John Bagnato – guitar; Yang Jin – pipa and zheng; Randraiz Wharton – keyboard; Chris Potter – keyboard; Hugo Cruz – percussion; Julian Powell - drums. Recording by Malcom Inglis. Mixed by Chris Potter. Mastered by Kelly Hibbert. Released March 25, 2021 on Neuma Records.
Morley, “Power Justice and Love.” Written by Morley (Oneism Music/ASCAP) and Jon Cowherd (The Colonel’s Music/ASCAP); music by Morley and Jon Cowherd; lyrics by Morley. Will Lee – bass; Brian Blade – drums; Danny Sadownick – congas; Morley – shaker; John Andrews – acoustic and electric guitars; Jon Cowherd - Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, pump organ; Etienne Charles – trumpet and horn arrangements.
Sonny Singh, “Koi Bol Ram.” Lyrics by Guru Arjan (16th century); music by Sonny Singh; produced by Wil-Dog Abers. Sonny Singh – vocals, trumpet, and dhol; Ashni Davé – backing vocals; Ria Modak – backing vocals; Basim Usmani – backing vocals; Wil-Dog Abers – bass and guitar; Mario Calire - drumset; Carey Frank – keys; Anantvir Singh – harmonium; Neelamjit Dhillon – alto saxophone; Warren Huang - tenor saxophone; Ernest Stuart – trombone; Estevan Sanchez - sousaphone.
Kauwila & Inalihi, “Pae ʻĀina to Palestine.” Lyrics by Daniel Kauwila Mahi and Ciera Kaʻihilani Ihupani Lasconia; produced by Kauwila.
Tamar-kali, “Pearl.” Tamar-kali – composition arrangement, vocals; Mark Robohm – drums; Jeremiah Hosea – bass; Jerome Jordan – guitar; Thom Loubet – guitar.
Azraq, “Baby Please Don’t Go.” Composed by Kamerra Jodale Franklin, Kareem Samara, and Sama'an Ashrawi. Kam Franklin – vocals; Kareem Samara – instruments. Produced by Sama'an Ashrawi, Kareem Samara, and Kam Franklin; mastered by Jasmine Chen.
Taína Asili, “Survival.” Taína Asili – composition, lyrics, and lead vocals; Gaetano Vaccaro – guitar; Kiki Vassilakis – drums; Gabby Canzeri – bass guitar; Dylan Blanchard – congas and auxiliary percussion; Jeff Nania – saxophone; Philippe Chow – trumpet; Ayana D. – backing vocals. Recorded and mixed by Brett Portzer at White Lake Music & Post in Albany, NY. Additional recording by Bryan Brundidge in Albany, NY. Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge, assisted by Rich Morales.
Bella Cuts, “Until Everybody Is Free.” Composed and produced by Jennifer Bell.
Stefan Christoff and Sam Shalabi, “Flying Street.” Recorded winter 2014 at La Sala Rossa in Montréal. Mixed and recorded by Adrian Roy Taylor.