One cannot ignore the extreme hatred that is currently permeating the globe. Even in 2019, humans are still being discriminated against for their beliefs, race, identity and just about anything else and often times governments are advocating these prejudices. While we cannot always change the political landscape, music can certainly help shift the tides and provide assistance to those in need. That’s why Polish collective Oramics so important. In addition to having an amazing roster of artists (a couple of which we’ve featured recently - Mala Herba & FOQL) they engage in grassroots activism and support LGBTQIA+ groups in Poland and beyond.
The collective’s latest release is TOTAL SOLIDARITY - a massive compilation organized in collaboration with New York Haunted. The comp features a total of 121(!) tracks and spans a variety of electronic genres and features international headliners, emerging talent, local heroes and much more. All proceeds from the digital sales will support Polish queer organizations: Kampania Przeciw Homofobii and Miłość Nie Wyklucza, who monitor homophobia, provide all kind of support for queer people and have agreed to help redistribute the proceeds throughout LGBTQIA+ organizations in smaller cities and towns of Poland, who need them the most.
From Oramics:
In recent years, we have observed an evolving campaign of homophobia run by the right-wing Polish government, spread by the government media and fueled by the Catholic Church. We have heard that the LGBTQIA+ community is a plague, a dangerous ideology, a threat to morality and Polish culture and should be fought with fire. These words caused an eruption of violence, e.g. recent pogrom-like attacks on a Pride march in Białystok and targeting queer people on the streets as well as their allies wearing rainbow symbols. This atmosphere of disrespect, violence and hate leads many Polish queer people to depression, migration or even suicide.
The electronic music scene in Poland has recently taken a stand and many initiatives, festivals, collectives and clubs declared their solidarity and support. We want to take it further and do what we do best: share our passion for music and creating spaces where we can all feel free and at home. Music, art and the club scene are all parts of culture which is not and cannot be indifferent to historical and social turmoils or political oppression. Quite the contrary, it has always been the voice of resistance. Club culture is something more than hedonistic sounds letting you forget about your everyday life, it is something more than a way to make money - it is a tool that can help other people. Apart from the fundraiser party at Jasna 1 on August 9th 2019, we present you with the compilation “TOTAL SOLIDARITY” created thanks to the cooperation of Oramics collective and the person behind New York Haunted label - Drvg Cvltvre. All proceeds from the digital sales will support Polish queer organizations: Kampania Przeciw Homofobii and Miłość Nie Wyklucza, who monitor homophobia, provide all kind of support for queer people and have agreed to help us redistribute the proceeds throughout LGBTQIA+ organizations in smaller cities and towns of Poland, who need them the most. It took us less than a week to collect more than 100 tracks from all kinds of electronic music genres, from various different producers from far and near who wish to support the queer community in Poland. Once again we want to pay respect to the roots of club culture in queer, people of color, anti-gentrification, anti-state oppression struggle. We want to say, sing and bang it out loud: Queer rights are human rights. We’re in this together.
The release is out August 17, 2019 at 3 pm (CET). You can buy the entire compilation or purchase individuals tracks and create your own. This is a vital tool for fighting against hatred and anyone who wants to contribute or help after the release is invited to get in touch with Oramics. Listen and order above or follow this link.
-JRS
