Podcast: Interview with Marwan Kamel of Al Thawra, punk Middle Eastern band
January 2nd, 2010We’re starting off the year with a new podcast, and this time with Marwan Kamel, lead singer of the punk Middle Eastern band “Al Thawra.” I could try my luck writing my own introduction of this awesome band, but I wouldn’t be able to top my friend Daniela who wrote about them on Mideast Youth a few months ago, so I’m just going to paste hers:
Marwan Kamel is a son of Syrian father and a Polish mother, and grew up in Chicago. The beginnings of Al Thawra date to 2006 or 2007, when Marwan started experimenting with music on his computer. He calls it “me and my computer phase.” He was trying to mix Middle Eastern music with punk and metal, trying to find commonalities, and differences. [Read more.]
In this podcast, Marwan talks about his background, influences, issues of identity, and a lot of things in between.
Before you read the rest of this post, take a listen to the podcast, which you will find at the bottom.
This is one of their music videos, Miskeen, best described by Daniela as the following:
Al Thawra music carries many other political themes, their song Miskeen, which means “someone who is doomed (or followed by bad fortune), comments on the situation in Gaza. It starts with a young Palestinian girl, reciting a sort of political protest poem, saying “we are the revolution,” the heirs of Salah ad-Din…. while the video shows dark streets of Chicago, public transport scene, and Al Thawra band members, with grim and somber expressions, as if reflecting the gloomy mood stemming from the incomprehensible and pointless oppression, regardless where it takes place.
You may download this song here.
You may also stream the following songs:
Gaza Choking:
Download.
A Las Cinco:
Download.
For more of their music, photos, and information, check out their MySpace page. You should also follow them on Twitter @althawra.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by MideastYouth, Protestwatch.org.uk. Protestwatch.org.uk said: #Protest Podcast: Interview with Marwan Kamel of Al Thawra, punk Middle Eastern band: … comment.. http://bit.ly/6ksVH2 #Gaza [...]
[...] this music I can express my confusion,” says Marwan Kamel, lead-guitarist in Chicago-based Al Thawra, one of the emerging punk rock groups composed of first generation immigrants of Middle Eastern and [...]