Simon Thacker’s Global Collaborative Note On Solidarity During Covid 19

Simon Thacker’s Global Collaborative Note On Solidarity During Covid 19

Simon Thacker’s Global Collaborative Note On Solidarity During Covid 19

19 leading musicians from around the world come together to share a message of solidarity in the time of Covid 19.

There have been many creative responses to the challenges of the COVID crisis. A revelatory take by Scottish classical guitarist and composer Simon Thacker on a seminal song of hope has added to the artistic achievements of this time. He has brought together nineteen leading performers from nine countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, for his ecstatic reimagining of the iconic song We Shall Overcome. This remarkable collaboration is an international message of solidarity in the time of Covid 19.

Simon aimed to create a track that would celebrate the unique possibilities of a spectacularly diverse ensemble. We Shall Overcome features a vocal lineup of India’s Paban Das Baul, Parvathy Bau and Raju Das Baul, and Bangladesh’s Farida Yesmin, from the mystical Bengali Baul spiritual tradition, India’s much-loved singer-songwriter Raghu Dixit, Polish world music diva Anna Witczak-Czerniawska, Bangladeshi folk singer Prokash, Pakistani classical masters Javed Bashir and Akbar Ali, and Persian classical singer Farzad Moradi. Each verse in this epic transformation is preceded by breathtaking instrumental interaction between Thacker on classical guitar, Jehad Al Halal (cello) and Salah Alawi Sharakhat (bass) from Bahrain, Bangladeshi flutist Mainuddin Khan Sayonto, Chennai based tabla maestro Praveen Narayan, Rubin Shrestha (flute) and Siddhartha Maharjan (percussion) from Nepal, and virtuoso Iranian qanun exponent Yasaman Najmeddin.

Simon Thacker composed, produced, and edited the audio and video of the track, embarking on the complex journey of creation in April. Simon’s career has been defined by pioneering intercultural collaborations, particularly with Indian classical and folk luminaries in the collective Simon Thacker’s Svara-Kanti. We Shall Overcome he took inspiration from each of the respective traditions of the performers as well as the immense legacy of a song known around the world in many languages. He said “For me, this version of We Shall Overcome is a beautiful testament to the force for positivity and unity that music will always be. We hope it will lift your spirits during the time of COVID 19.” You can see the full video on Simon’s YouTube channel.

Out now featuring: Akbar Ali (Pakistan), Anna Witczak-Czerniawska (Poland), Farida Yesmin (Bangladesh), Farzad Moradi (Iran), Javed Bashir (Pakistan), Jehad Al Halal (Bahrain), Mainuddin Khan Sayonto (Bangladesh), Paban Das Baul (India), Parvathy Baul (India), Praveen Narayan (India), Prokash (Bangladesh), Raghu Dixit (India), Raju Das Baul (India), Rubin Shrestha (Nepal), Salah Alawi Sharakhat (Bahrain), Siddhartha Maharjan (Nepal), Simon Thacker (Scotland), Vladislav Demin (Russia), Yasaman Najmeddin (Iran)