MassiveMusic and DHA join forces with Sounds of Change to support its mission to change the world through music.
For our collaborative project ‘Instruments for Change’, musicians from Syria, Turkey, and Senegal were invited to the MassiveMusic studio to record a variety of traditional instruments. The recordings gave life to an online sample pack and VST that DJs, producers, and musicians can now download to give a unique touch to their own creations. All proceeds go to Sounds of Change to help them provide musical training in conflict-affected areas to empower communities in need.
Lucas Dols, Director at Sounds of Change, explains: “Music changes the world because it changes people. We’re a very small organization with big ambitions: by giving musical training in areas of conflict, we aim to create inclusive societies and empower communities. We want our projects to be impactful and sustainable, and this is only possible with the right collaborations. We’re so grateful to have MassiveMusic and Deep House Amsterdam on board. In the end, we all share a common vision: connecting people through music and making the world a better place.”
Marijn Roozemond, Creative Strategist at creative music agency MassiveMusic, adds: “We got in touch with five musicians and invited them to our recording studio. It was very special to hear them playing traditional instruments from their home country, exploring the endless range of possibilities that each one entails. By playing their instruments and sharing their stories, they gave us access to their culture and their inner world too.”
Most of them come from Syria: Nawras plays the oud, a short-neck-stringed instrument, Modar Salama plays both the daff and riq, Arabic percussions, whereas Shaza Manla plays the qanun, a descendant of the old Egyptian harp (pictured above). Senegal and Turkey were also represented, with Mame N’Diack recording his vocals and Sinan Arat playing the ney, an end-blown flute and one of the oldest instruments of all times.
Lex van Aken, Owner at DHA, comments: “Technology will soon catch up with us, so we should focus on what makes us human, teaching people about empathy and to never give up on their hopes and dreams. I believe music is the first building block on which these pillars are built and Sounds of Change uses their training to convey this in such a beautiful way. With Instruments for Change, we extend their message by giving people the opportunity to work on music together globally.”
Watch this space and our social media accounts for more ‘Instruments for Change’ recording sessions, events, and initiatives.
How can you help?
Here’s what you can do to support ‘Instruments for Change’:
1. Head to instrumentsforchange.nl to download* the sample pack
2. Use the samples and loops for your own music
3. Upload your track to any streaming and/or social media platform
4. Tag us and use the #instrumentsforchange hashtag for a potential feature
Help us spread the word with the world.
Let’s make a difference, one beat at a time.
*All proceeds go directly to Sounds of Change to help them empower communities in need by providing musical training in conflict-affected areas.
