BOMS
Black Lives Matter #BlackLivesMatter
This song, BOMS, “blood of my soul” is dedicated to all of the black women and men who have been murdered by police, a result of systemic racism which permeates every facet of our society. Until #BlackLivesMatter, all lives will not. Profits from streaming on any platform will be added to my monthly contribution to the Equal Justice Initiative (https://eji.org/), and, if it is ever licensed (big money) profits will also be donated.
I am reposting a list of organizations that you can donate to (credit: @botanicaldyke), together with a list of legal resources. https://shorturl.at/krxCD Tab 2: Legal Services and Bail Support Tab 3: Advice for Protesting and Social Media Tab 4: Bail Funds, Memorial Funds, Organizations & Mutual Aid Tab 5: International Solidarity and Resources Tab 6: Misc Mutual Aid and Community Projects
Here are a few of the names of the women and men lost. I know many many more have gone unnoticed, but they are not forgotten.
Say their names. Breonna Taylor Sandra Bland George Floyd Ahmaud Arbery Rayshard Brooks Michael Brown Eric Garner Oscar Grant III Trayvon Martin Amadou Diallo Rekia Boyd Tamir Rice Alex Nieto Aiyana Jones Jonathan Akeem Pairre Ferrell John Crawford Ramarley Graham Kendrec McDade Ousmane Zongo Kathryn Johnston Eugene Ejikeobiora Tarika Wilson Sean Bell Philando Castile Terence Crutcher Freddy Gray
Video edited and directed by E.A Films Filmed by Alex Zajicek Special thanks to Oriana Saportas for the protest footage. BOMS (blood of my soul) represents the beautiful vulnerability we each feel when we love unconditionally. It came as a stream of consciousness three years ago, and developed into this orchestra of intense sound. I am so grateful for the collaboration for the video (EA Films and Alex Zajicek), the single’s cover art with Baidi Kamagate @im_baidi @le_noir_px (model and photographer) as well as the musicians that helped bring it to life. Kora by Yacouba Diarra, cuatro by Jackelyn Rago, live drums by Jayme Arredondo, all other instruments/vocals/mix by myself, and mastered by Trakworx.
I hope we keep up the fight and force true change in the USA. Demilitarize and defund the police allocating these resources directly to the community. Track individual police and hold police accountable when they use excessive force for any reason, not just when it results in severe injury or death. And so much more. We can do so much. We can vote and make sure those who represent us follow through with their promises, we can protest in the streets, we can donate money, we can boycott businesses use prison labor or otherwise support a white supremacist agenda and we can directly support the black community, by, buying from black businesses, supporting and promoting black artists across disciplines. I hope that we do not allow the numbing effect of living in a society of instant gratification consumerism to continue to drug us into inaction through surface-deep distractions, the illusion of division. I hope we can rediscover the unique creativity that lies in each of us, our power of expression, of true love. Renee Asteria/Razteria/Renay Asteria Records 2020
