Promoting peace through music

The global multimedia music event that sets out to change the world with music makes its debut today in Thailand, with the inaugural Playing for Change Day 2013 kicking off at CentralWorld at 1pm.

Created by the American producer and sound engineer Mark Johnson with his Timeless Media Group, the project seeks to bring together musicians from around the world. 

Here the event features Nanglen Band, Wattana “Jeab” Weerayawattana, Jennifer Kim, Saowalak “Amp” Leelabut, Peerapat “Be” Thanewong, Saksit “Tor” Vejsupaporn, Natthawut “Max The Voice” Jenmana, Tanon “Non The Voice” Jamroen, Sarocha “Suay The Voice” Senarat, Kanitkul “Praew” Netbute, Groove Rider’s Notapol “Kor” Srichomkwan, Mariam Alkalali from Season Five and many others.

“Kids will also have the chance to show off their abilities. They’ll first get some instruction from volunteers and they’ll also prepare a special song to perform with the artists,” says Siriporn Promwong, a coordinator of the Khlong Toey Music Programme and a ukulele and guitar instructor. 

“In addition to music, the event includes a photo exhibition, a stage play and shows of art and postcards. You can donate money or used musical instruments for those kids to use.”

The project started in 2004 with the organisation’s self-described goal to “inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music”. Johnson along with the project’s co-founder Enzo Buono, travelled around the world stopping off in New Orleans, Barcelona, South Africa, India, Nepal, the Middle East and Ireland. Using mobile recording equipment, the duo recorded local musicians performing the same song, interpreted in their own style. Among the artists participating or openly involved in the project are Vusi Mahlasela, Louis Mhlanga, Clarence Bekker, Tal Ben Ari (Tula), Bono, Keb’ Mo’, David Broza, Manu Chao and Grandpa Elliott.

In 2009, the project released a CD/DVD compilation, “Playing For Change: Songs Around The World” on the Concord Music Group label. The CD has 10 songs and the DVD has seven tracks, including video versions of five of the songs that appeared on the CD, plus a video film, “The Playing for Change Foundation”. 

The DVD also contains a three-minute trailer of the documentary “Peace Through Music”.

The Playing for Change concerts take place on the same day in more than 200 countries including Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Hungary, America, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Brazil, Nepal and the African continent. Artists and musicians gather together to play music at several places such as a public park, a coffee shop and a school and raise funds to build music and art schools for underprivileged children while simultaneously propagating the ideology of the Playing For Change Foundation.

“Playing for Change is like a key that unlocks freedom through music and creates peace in our world through music,” says Asian programme coordinator William Aura. “We believe that music is a great power to drive and connect people of all levels. We may speak different tongues but the language of music is universal.”

“Today we have 30 children from the Khlong Toey slum learning guitar, ukulele, keyboard and drum from us. Our project aims to help underprivileged youngsters who are at risk from drugs and to inspire them to become professionals in the future,” says Geraldine Nemrod of the Khlong Toey Music Programme. “We expect to extend our teaching to 100 children.”

 

Tunes for the world

_ Playing for Change Day 2013 takes place today from 1pm to 10pm.

_ Thai PBS is airing live coverage of “Dontri Kawee Silp” from 9pm.