What’s The Meaning is a charity EP recently released by Business As Usual to help raise funds for Gaza Soup Kitchen.
As the situation on the ground in Gaza becomes more dire by the day, it is crucial to support the cause in any way possible. You don’t need to be an aid worker to support the people of Palestine, everybody’s skill set is valuable– whether you’re a doctor, teacher, translator, or even a DJ, producer, singer.
Business As Usual sets the standard, proving that music can indeed help the cause. In making tunes where 100% of the proceeds go towards a charity delivering food to a starved population, these artists set a precedent for how to use your skillset in times of political strife and international atrocities. They are joining an up and coming movement of artists using their music to raise money for those in Palestine (Jeremy Corbyn’s Music For Ceasefire innovated this). The 3-track EP is now available for a £10 donation to Gaza Soup Kitchen. The cover art depicts a soaring bird decorated with thecolours of the Palestinian flag– symbolic of hope and freedom for the people.
So, who are Business As Usual? Having only launched late last year, you might not be aware that they are a supergroup composed of DLR, Genic, and Molecular. DLR is one of the biggest Bristol producers in the game. Co-founding Sofa Sound Bristol, his achievements and respectability within the scene makes him an astounding role model to engineer a project such as this one. Genic are another third of the supergroup equation, being themselves a trio on the Sofa Sound label, it makes sense that they would come together with DLR to innovate this EP. The last, but certainly not least, cog in the machine is Molecular, a Portuguese trailblazer who has graced a variety of stages around Europe, similarly lending his art to this vision.
The EP itself is three tracks of straight drum and bass. With the first being a vocal track, collaborated on with Fox– an MC who has been a part of multiple musical fundraisers for the Palestinian cause. The eponymous track ‘What’s The Meaning’ is upbeat and flowy, it is definitely the stand out and a strong opener for the project. This is contrasted tastefully by the second track, an instrumental more towards the experimental side. Whilst the third and final track is also an instrumental, it differs immensely from the ones before it. ‘Virtue’ ends the EP on a chilled note. Most distinguishably, the sample of children talking and laughing stands out. It is a powerful element given the cause the song was created in spirit of. A sorrowful reminder done artfully.
The Gaza Soup Kitchen is a charitable organisation run by the Palestinian American Hani Almadhoun and her family. They serve hot meals and clean drinking water to those suffering in the Israeli military occupation of Gaza. In this current climate of political tyranny, it is more important than ever to stand up for what is right. The Gaza Soup Kitchen is an essential humanitarian aid.
Support by streaming the EP here.
