FREEDOM SONG was composed as an instrumental song and recorded at one of the sessions at Hansahaus Studio, Bonn. Reviewing the song a few days later, I somehow felt that the mel- ody, chords and the whole atmosphere of the song longed for something much deeper. In my mind I kept seeing these images of people contemplating, making their voices heard: whether it was about war, persecution or any form of injustice. Tragic events were overflowing the news: the Ukraine war had just started, the women in Iran were courageously protesting, attacks on Kurdistan and the never-ending sadness about African refugees dying while on their way to Europe. Knowing that I have the privilege to live in a rich and safe environment, I felt the need to make these topics visible and use this song as a musical stage to share with other artists. I invited a few very talented artists to add words and lyrics to the instrumental. Asking if they would be willing to speak about these topics, as they all are originally from countries which suffer from unimaginable conflicts. Guests include Ukrainian singer Tamara Lukasheva and Iranian singer Maryam Akhondy. Mehmet Akbaş is a very charismatic Kurdish singer who I had the pleasure of working with a few years back. The intro was written and performed by Mirta Junco Wambrug and Eduardo Duquesne, two incredible musicians from Cuba who I dearly love. Another important and intimate part is spoken and sung by Melane Nkounkolo. Melane shares a very personal story about her experience as a Black Congolese woman growing up in Germany, the civil war in the Republic of Congo, and her brother, the ”Mikiliste“, which is the Congolese word for a person who has ”arrived“ in the Western world and came to create a better life.
Bringing their personal experiences to the song is what made it so special and powerful. In addition to all stories, my friend Ian Alexander Griffiths and I wrote a unifying chorus by saying: so many voices don’t get heard, they need to be made visible. A whole world can unfold if you just listen to what they have to say. I am forever grateful to have collaborated with each and everyone of you and I salute your courage for sharing your story, your time and dedication with me and everybody who is listening!
Apart from all vocalists I also had the pleasure to feature Syrian artist Moslem Rahal, whose outstanding performance on the ney flute brought a mesmerizing character to the song. Also joining in were two friends and virtuosos, who helped paint some more color in the instrumental interlude: Dino Soldo on soprano and Christoph Broll on violin. This song also features Til Schneider on trombone and NIels Klein on bass clarinet.