Posted on 09 July 2019.
RANDA AND THE SOUL KINGDOM’S NEW RELEASE “2048” NOMINATED FOR WAM SONG OF THE YEAR AWARD
Our new release “2048” has been nominated for WAM SONG OF THE YEAR AWARD! With a strong political message, but new single “2048” from Randa and the Soul Kingdom hits home with its powerful plea to save our seas – earning them a coveted WAM Song of the Year nomination in the World Music category.
After hearing a podcast from scientists concluding the dire prediction of marine life failing by 2048, Randa Khamis was committed to using the global platform she and the Soul Kingdom enjoy in spreading this urgent message. The outfit tours extensively, having played festivals all across Australia and Europe (from Parklife in Melbourne to St Paul Soul Jazz Festival in France) and supports big-name artists such as Lionel Richie and Cat Empire, so has the perfect opportunity to do their part to change the world.
An afro-beat and Middle Eastern instrumentation of “2048” (featuring Esfandier Shahmir on Ney) ensures that its global message can be shared by all the peoples of the planet, a planet songwriter Randa Khamis holds grave concerns for. As the daughter of parents who as children fled from war in Palestine, and were then forced to seek refuge in Australia from Jordan once baby Randa arrived, this pocket rocket chanteuse knows the power in bringing cultures together to make a fresh new start. And in dancing; there has to be lots of dancing!
“It’s hard getting people to dance to a song based on scientific predictions that by the year 2048 there’ll be no fish in the ocean if we keep going the way we are. It’s always a challenge to talk about serious topics without sounding preachy while still making a song people could dance to.”
Randa and the Soul Kingdom have seriously delivered, on both the message, and the dancing, with “2048”, produced at Rada studios by Dan Carroll. The track has been released in conjunction with World Oceans Week and is connected to a fundraising campaign for World Oceans Day (you can donate to the cause through Randa and the Soul Kingdom’s Facebook Page).
This exciting nomination for the WAM Song of the Year award sees Randa join an impressive list of Perth talent including Ben Matthews, Steve Hensby Band, Grace Barbé, Kohesia Ensemble and Tara Tiba as fellow nominees in the World Music category, for which the winner will be announced at the WAM Awards on June 26th at Freo.Social.
“2048” by Randa and the Soul Kingdom is out now on Spotify and all good streaming services.
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