Primal Scream, The XX, Editors, Bombay Bicycle Club and more have shared their ultimate playlists with Oxfam to help raise awareness of the massive humanitarian crisis currently affecting Syrian people.
In the countdown to the Glastonbury festival, Oxfam will be releasing one specially created playlist a day chosen by some of the biggest and most diverse names in music and hosted by Spotify. People are being encouraged to share the customised playlists to show solidarity with Syrian people. The tracks chosen by the Scottish rock band will top the playlist countdown on Tuesday.
Syria’s humanitarian crisis is of staggering proportions and deteriorating daily. Violent conflict has forced over eight million Syrian people from their homes, nearly 1.5m of whom are now refugees in neighbouring countries.
They include schoolchildren, students, musicians, accountants, and teachers – people from every walk of life who’ve lost everything.
Oxfam is aiming to reach 650,000 people in the coming months, however the massive surge in refugee numbers and the scale of the crisis is leaving relief agencies overstretched and struggling to cope.
The charity has recently launched a petition calling on the UK government to champion the needs of everyone affected, by increasing international aid inside Syria and across the region, and supporting efforts to find a peaceful, not military, end to the crisis www.oxfam.org.uk/syria-petition.
The playlists include fourteen of the artist’s favourite tracks ever, from festival highlights, to early musical inspirations. Playlists are available on www.oxfam.org.uk/musicforsyria and release dates are:
Thursday – Bombay Bicycle Club
Friday- Editors
Saturday – Josephine
Sunday – Two Door Cinema Club
Monday – The XX
Tuesday – Primal Scream
To mark World Refugee Day, Oxfam will also be asking people to share a beautifully shot music film by music producer and film maker Alex Forster, featuring a group of Syrian musicians in Zaatari camp, Jordan.
The musicians, who are also brothers, are part of Oxfam’s Voice project, which helps refugees to make their voices heard – using tools such as music and storytelling – to raise their concerns and highlight their needs.
The film shows the men singing and talking about how music has helped them cope with life in the camp, channelling their sadness and anger. Their inspiring lyrics reflect camp life and are often patriotic, highlighting how they miss their homeland. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MMbddbYrbc&feature=youtu.be
Syrian musician, Diaa Hariri said: “Music is now much more important to us than it used to be before. We change the lyrics of the songs in a way that expresses our lives now.” Syrian musician, Hasan Hariri said: “The motive behind our singing is both social and therapeutic; therapeutic because we forget a little about our frustration and hardships in the camp, and at the same time it is social because we bring people together to enjoy their time.”
By sharing the music, film and playlists people will be supporting the charity’s ‘Love Syria’ festival campaign. For more information visit: https://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/festivals/campaigners