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Prominent Iraqi Kurdish humanitarian and pop star, Dashni Morad, responds to President Trump’s travel ban on refugees and migrants in the most beautiful way.
She releases her debut UK single, the uplifting and inspirational ‘Love Wins’, on February 24th. An impassioned plea for support for refugees and migrants around the world, ‘Love Wins’ sends out a message that love can overcome hate, and unity can overcome division, at a time when the world really needs to hear it. A former refugee and migrant herself, her earliest memories are not of the school playground or summer holidays, but fleeing to the mountains in fear of Saddam Hussein’s brutal chemical attacks. She has seen plenty of war and destruction, and is reminded of those difficult times every day through her work with refugees. To date, Dashni’s Green Kids charity has donated over 200,000 books to underprivileged schools, established two mini libraries at refugee camps, and has collected significant money and other aid for refugees, across war-torn Iraqi Kurdistan. Having now set up in the UK, Dashni will launch her first UK Green Kids project in January 2017. Dashni Morad is remarkable for many reasons. Back home in Iraqi Kurdistan, she is an inspirational feminist figure, a prominent humanitarian, and a pop star that makes music with purpose. Iraqi-Kurdish born, Dashni started out as a TV presenter on a Kurdish satellite channel. She fronted a hit TV show, through which she became a beloved figure to millions of Kurds around the world, and somewhat of a superstar back in her homeland, later leading to a career in music. Her first single, the female-empowerment themed,‘Open Your Eyes’ ended up being a huge hit across the Middle East and Europe. Having rocked the establishment and challenged the status quo on issues such as women’s rights, child access to education and environmental protection for over ten years back in her homeland, Dashni is now taking the refugee and migrant fight to the international community. “Music helped to defeat Apartheid and bring down communism, so Trump really doesn’t stand a chance” (Dashni) An inimitable force of nature, Dashni remains fiercely driven, and with ‘Love Wins’, hopes to give a voice to the silenced and helpless majority. A symbol of what, despite the odds, women can achieve in the Middle East, Dashni’s story is one that needs to be heard. Dashni plans to donate proceeds from the single to Green Kids http://www.greenkids.org.uk
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David Philips locked himself in his studio and spent the winter months writing and recording new material. Harking back to the full band sound of his debut album, but this time with a grittier sound centred mainly around the electric guitar and his new found love of the drum kit. Very much the studio loner David wrote, recorded and produced the whole record himself, playing all instruments and also designing the artwork. David says of the writing process : “With these songs I was experimenting with a new way of writing, something much more spontaneous, organic and immediate, trying my best to keep the inner critic at bay for as long as possible. I was able to centre the songs around what I hope are strong hooks and allowing myself to write with the electric guitar rather than the acoustic gave the songs a different energy.” Stylistically sitting somewhere between Ryan Adams and Doyle Bramhall II, yet as ever with his own instantly recognisable sound, Philips mixes pop, blues, rock and a touch of soul on this compact and to the point collection of 8 new songs entitled simply “Winter.”
Sarantos releases a charmingly thoughtful new music video for the folk song "First 5 Seconds." For the music video for "First 5 Seconds," Sarantos thought the story should center on love as seen through the eager eyes of a child, the hopeful eyes of a teenager and the mature eyes of an older adult. But think about it. Does love really change as we age or is that just an urban myth? Isn't love always love? After all, love knows no real boundary. Doesn’t it just depend on our personality as opposed to being a preset based on age? Love can take many forms. Love doesn't care about age, gender or race. Depending on age, love might be fueled by raging hormones or offer peaceful introspection and acceptance. Maybe it does but maybe it doesn't! Love is different for everyone but ultimately love is love. To be human is to have felt love in some way and at some point in life. "This folk song is about love and how it might or might not change thru the years," says Sarantos. "I thought this story should reflect how love does not actually change over time. We all remember driving our parents crazy when we were teens. Do you remember the mood swings? One moment we're wildly infatuated and in love, the next we're broken-hearted crying a river. Contrast that with a mature older couple who has earned their wrinkles but is still together. By the way, is there anything cooler than an elderly couple out for a romantic walk holding hands? But I offer fans a twist in this video. The young children who grew up together fall in love as teen but are tame compared to their older future selves who are playful and very carefree. I know I personally always expected the stereotype to be true myself but I don't think that it should necessarily be true. I know it won’t be for me. I still love being sarcastic, playful and acting like a goofball as I age. I wanted this video to show love in many forms but especially how it grows deeper despite the ravages of time on the human body. Who says only young people can be fiercely in love?" Sarantos and fans chose this charity for this song - The American Heart Association. They are a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. Sarantos' unique sound has been best described by industry insiders as an "emotionally powerful vocal style masterfully united with music that is a fusion of classic '80s rock blended with modern soft rock and pop music." Since 2014, Sarantos has won over 36 awards with Akademia LA Music and Beat 100, while also being nominated for the International Music & Entertainment Awards and the Hollywood Songwriting Awards. Even without ever using a professional music studio, label, ad agency or radio promoters, “Dreamer” & “What If I Never See You Again” have spent many months in the top 200 on the majors list in the US for radio airplay according to the Digital Radio Tracker Top 200 charts. On the independent charts, Sarantos has hit the top 10 twice. *Because Sarantos wants music shared throughout the world, fans can always find downloadable songs, lyric sheets, videos and books on the website. Fans can sign up for the email list to get the inside scoop first and exclusive content available nowhere else. The story about SarantosSarantos Bio 2017 is a new year and Sarantos is back at work continuing to release a new song, music video and book chapter every month. In three years, he has released 6 albums with 85 original tracks as well as 3 fiction/fantasy books thatparallel the songs! The CDs continue to expand on his unique signature style but with an eclectic mix of edgy experimentation! Fans and fellow musicians marvel at his humble down-to-earth demeanor, his dedication to his mission and the wealth of free content that continues to drop every month along with his contributions to charity! His journey started in 2014. He has tackled almost every genre imaginable. Fans continue to interact directly with Sarantos while enjoying regular surprises such as a Christmas album, solo and full instrumentals, bonus covers, a steady stream of witty radio interviews and much more. Fans always wonder what’s next. Sarantos unique sound has been best described by industry insiders as "an emotionally powerful vocal style masterfully united with music that is a fusion of classic 80s rock blended with modern soft rock and pop music!" Since 2014, Sarantos has won over 35 awards with Akademia LA Music, Beat 100 while also being nominated for the International Music & Entertainments Awards, Hollywood Music In Media, and the Hollywood Songwriting Awards. Even without ever using a studio, label, ad agency or radio promoters, his songs “Dreamer” & “What If I Never See You Again” have spent many months in the top 200 on the majors list in the US for radio airplay according to the Digital Radio Tracker Top 200 charts. On the independent charts, Sarantos has hit the top 10. Dreamer was even picked up on the BBC worldwide in 2016! In 2017, Sarantos finally started using a professional music studio and the difference is palpable! Sarantos is an avid comic book reader, nerd, workaholic, one-time owner of the Millennium Falcon, gamer and zombie killer. Sarantos prides himself on not releasing robotic music. Playing live or on the radio, the music is authentic and real. It has imperfections because it is human. He is always trying to sound different musically, lyrically and vocally. He does not want fans or critics to get bored with his efforts or sound. Despite momentum and continued traction, Sarantos still has not turned a profit since he gives away all of his songs, videos and books for free and, of course, everything costs money to make. He also doesn’t put ads on his You Tube videos so fans can enjoy the experience without having to keep clicking on the close button for the ads every 30 seconds. Sarantos still was able to donate $2,000 in 2015 and in 2016 to the various charities that were picked by fans for his songs. It's not much but every little bit counts. Hopefully the number will continue to increase as his journey unfolds.Sarantos currently has over 1.3M Social Media followers and has been rated #1 on Reverbnation in the rock and even pop genre worldwide on several occasions. Sarantos performed at the Toronto Music Festival in May to a sold out live audience. Sarantos music has received rave reviews and he relishes this chance to pursue his life-long dream. With new hit tunes waiting to be released every single month until the day he dies, Sarantos music screams success and stimulates an overdue conversation in the always-changing music industry. Sarantos loyal fans continue to tune in daily for his heartfelt social media posts. His songs are being broadcast every day on various radios stations around the globe. Sarantos continues to do interviews and fans can listen in on a few of them on his YouTube channel. Please don’t listen thought if you will be offended by his funny, sarcastic, witty and genuine demeanor. Sarantos never sticks to just one theme or one emotion. His music videos aren’t all about him. He doesn’t want fans to get bored with the usual lame music videos that are common in the industry. What will he try next? There will always be plenty of buzz as Sarantos strives to release something new to his fans every single week! Every year until the day he dies, Sarantos will release a new song and lyric video on the 1st Tuesday of every month, a new music video on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, a book chapter from his fiction/fantasy book on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, and a new Uncut Behind The Scenes video on the 4th Tuesday of every month. A new CD & book will then be released every November along with a surprise CD. Every year. Forever. Sarantos has been writing lyrics since 4th grade and is passionate about the words he puts to the music.
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May 2020
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