It’s hard to believe that 2020 is halfway over. A lot has happened, yet at the same time, it feels like nothing has. It is normal to feel heavy on your feet during these times when we need to spend most of our time at home, unable to travel or connect with friends and family and unable to take action.  Taking action doesn’t necessarily mean going out on the streets.  It could be just getting out of bed at 7am to finish a project, pushing yourself to perfect a skill, reading a new book or even just going to the gym.  In times like these, we turn to music for inspiration.  In this first edition of Xiaolin Sound, we will talk about how over the years, iconic artists have used music as an outlet to express themselves and inspire us to take action, covering everything from eco-activism to women’s rights, anti-racism and spreading positivity in general.  I will also share my 10 favourite “action” picks of the month from local as well as international artists and producers, with more detailed highlights below.

Nina Simone – Feeling Good

Born in 1933, jazz-soul singer Nina Simone is a legendary female icon known for standing up against racism in the music world.  When she performed at her first piano concert at the age of twelve, her African-American parents were forced to sit at the back of the room in order to make room for the white patrons.  In that moment, she had refused to start playing until her parents were moved back to their original seats in the front.  This encounter greatly affected her and led her to become a big advocate for Black Rights through her songwriting.  Since her graduation from The Juilliard School, she has gone on to become one of the most successful singers in the world with her uniquely soulful voice and her ability to reinterpret popular songs of the time into a unique blend of jazz, blues and gospel.  Her most well-known song, Feeling Good was written in 1965 and talks about starting fresh and finding peace and happiness after overcoming adversity.

Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On

One of my favourite songs by Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On, written in the early 1970s, is taken from his brother’s experience in Vietnam.  The song opens with a homecoming party for a war veteran, and beneath it lies a veiled sense of uneasiness, which begs the question, “What’s going on?”  What starts off as a celebration turns into a plea to stop the war violence.

Massive Attack – Be Thankful For What You’ve Got

British band Massive Attack is one of biggest advocates against climate change.  In order to reduce their carbon footprint on their tour this year, they had announced that they would complete the rest of their European tour on train.  They have also announced that they would donate four years of their tour data to a report on the music industry’s carbon footprint.  In April 2019, the band made a surprise appearance at an event in London held by activist group Extinct Rebellion, where they performed a live remix of their song Hymn of the Big Wheel.  One of my favourite songs by them is Be Thankful For What You’ve Got.