INTERVIEW:
Nadine Shah (Together for Palestine)
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PERHAPS the most important single…
of this year is out on Friday (12th December). Together for Palestine’s LULLABY has been recorded to raise invaluable and much-needed funds to support Gaza’s children. Displaced and ravaged by genocide, the images we have been seeing from Gaza have been horrific and unforgettable. It is almost biblical in terms of its savagery. Although there has been some activation from the music industry when it comes to raising awareness and calling out Israel’s violence, there has not been as much protest and anger as there should be. Or songs of compassion that raise funds to help those affected by genocide and violence in Gaza. Before removing on, this detail from Peter Gabriel’s official website tells you all that you need to know about a hugely important and vital single that I hope gets to number one for Christmas. It is not an overstatement to say it is the most important single of this year:
“Today, the team behind Together For Palestine – the sold-out Wembley concert that raised over £2 million – announces a charity single “Lullaby” that will be released on 12th December via T4P Records and distributed by Empire XX.
This powerful and emotive reimagining of a traditional Palestinian lullaby sees over 15 UK and Palestinian artists come together to send a message of hope and solidarity to the very place where the Christmas story began. For this release, Together For Palestine have a bold aim: to reach Christmas #1 and raise urgent, life-saving funds for Gaza’s children affected by the ongoing bombardment and genocide in Gaza.
The new single was produced by Benji B, Kieran Brunt and Henri Davies, with arrangements by Kieran Brunt and Nai Barghouti, additional lyrics by Mahmoud Darwish and English lyrics written by Peter Gabriel.
The track includes Amena El Abd, Brian Eno, Celeste, Dan Smith (Bastille), Kieran Brunt, Lana Lubany, Leigh-Anne, London Community Gospel Choir, Mabel, Nadine Shah, Nai Barghouti, Neneh Cherry, Sura Abdo, TYSON, Yasmeen Ayyashi and Ysee. The official single artwork was created by visionary Gazan painter Malak Mattar, and inspired by her piece ‘Shelter’ with additional artwork by Cameron JL West.
Fans are urged to pre-order the single (available on BandCamp, iTunes or Amazon) as every purchase of the single sees direct funds donated to these important organisations as well as driving the song towards Christmas #1. Bandcamp and iTunes also allows users to buy the song as a gift – allowing fans to share the beautiful single far and wide – the perfect present at this time of year. Fans are also able to pre-save the single on their favourite streaming platform and stream from 12th December.
Every penny raised from the release will go to Choose Love’s Together For Palestine Fund supporting three Palestinian-led organisations Taawon, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and Palestine Medical Relief Service”.
There has been some wider coverage of LULLABY in the music press. NME published a feature about Together for Palestine’s single at the end of November. Now that it is out in the world, I would urge everyone to buy it. I am fascinated by the artists who are coming together for LULLABY. I have covered Lana Lubany before on my site and am a big fan of her. Celeste and Brian Eno join Yasmeen Ayyashi, Neneh Cherry and some music greats. Their combined influence, talent and voices, I hope, will help get LULLABY to number one. One of my favourite artists and human beings is Nadine Shah. I have reviewed her music and featured her numerous times, though this is the first interview with her. I was keen to find out more about her involvement in the single and why it is so important that people support LULLABY and help raise funds for children who are affected by genocide in Gaza. Some of the most horrifying scenes any of us have seen, it is clear that this needs to end! With Nadine Shah and her Together for Palestine compatriots uniting on this incredible and powerful song, right now, do make sure that you…
PRE-ORDER this amazing single.
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You were one of the artists who took part of the Together for Palestine benefit concert at Wembley Arena in September. How did you come to be involved with the concert, and did you get an opportunity speak with Brian Eno (its organiser) about the plight of the Palestinian people? If so, what did he say to you?
I met Brian two years ago at a charity benefit for Gaza at the Union Chapel, where we both performed. We connected that evening and have been friends since. We often speak about Palestine, but always from a position of “what can we do”. He has been so instrumental in bringing people together to actively DO SOMETHING. I have his words ringing around in my mind like a sort of mantra: 'keep working furiously and be patient'.
A huge amount of money was raised, and there were so many powerful performances and speeches delivered that night. What were your highlights or favourite moments from Together for Palestine? And do you know if this event will be repeated?
My highlight of that evening was spending time with Francesca Albanese. I’ve been a great admirer of her from afar for a long time, for obvious reasons. She is brilliant and relentless. But that evening, I saw another side of her. I saw the person, not the work. She shared my vape, we drank and we danced. There were so many of us there that night who, for over two years of this genocide (and many many more years before it), have been fighting and campaigning for the plight of the Palestinian people. It was the coming together of all of those people in one place that was so special, to be amongst your people when too many times you have previously felt alone and intimidated when speaking out. I can’t say much more, other than it was beautiful and that it served something which recharged everyone’s battery’s to continue.
“…the conversation doesn’t stop there…it has to continue until there is peace, until there is accountability”
You are featuring alongside several of the artists who performed for the Together for Palestine concert in addition to others for a very important single. LULLABY is a reimagining of one of Palestine’s most beloved Folk songs. How familiar are you with the song it is based on, and how did the charity single project start its life?
The song was actually meant to be performed on the night; it was intended to be the finale. As the night went on, it was more and more apparent that there would not be time. At one point, I’d even suggested all of us standing outside the venue belting the song out as the audience left Wembley. Luckily that idea was quickly snubbed, and the next day a conversation started about us recording the song instead. All of this came about within the following week; everyone was champing at the bit to make sure this reimagining of the song saw the light of day. For us, it is a continuation of that night, and that’s the whole point: the conversation doesn’t stop there…it has to continue until there is peace, until there is accountability.
Incredible artists like Lana Lubany, Yasmeen Ayyashi and Kieran Brunt are among those that feature on LULLABY, alongside the London Community Gospel Choir. What was the recording like? Did you get much time in the studio with each artist, or were your parts recorded separately across different days?
A bit of both. We had all spent time together previously in rehearsals for the show. In my recording session was Brian Eno, Dan Smith (Bastille), Neneh Cherry, Mabel, Tyson, and Ysee. A good squad.
“Keeping Palestine at the forefront of public consciousness is important”
We are in a moment when the children of Gaza especially are being targeted and destroyed. Was it an emotional experience recording for the single, and how important is it to get funds to Together for Palestine Fund so that they can aid Palestine-led organisations?
The song’s focus is motherhood. Tyson had her baby girl there in the studio when we recorded; she watched her Mammy sing.
I lost my mother in 2020, but unlike so many in Gaza, I was able to say my goodbyes and tell her I loved her one last time. She died. She wasn’t murdered.
Predicatbly, perineal Christmas favourites like Wham!’s Last Christmas might grab the top spot this year. Why should people ensure LULLABY gets to number one, and what will people’s money go towards funding and supporting?
ALL profits will go to the Together for Palestine Fund, which is held by Choose Love (charity number: 1177927) to support Palestinian-led organisations Taawon, Palestine Children's Relief Fund and Palestine Medical Relief Service. These are life-saving funds for children and families in Gaza.
We do tend to look for something escapist and commercial at Christmas, whereas LULLABY has a more serious heart and intention. Out on 12th December, the public need to realise how important a song like this is in terms of who it is helping and what a difference that will make. What message would you send to someone a bit wary about downloading and buying the song?
Keeping Palestine at the forefront of public consciousness is important. Christmas has been hijacked by capitalism. Let’s not line the pockets of billionaires anymore, ey? Take a day off and give to those in need.