You’re invited to Sultans of String’s online record launch
Refuge is the stunning new release from Billboard-charting, multi-Juno nominees Sultans of String – a diverse collection of songs celebrating the struggles and successes of refugees and immigrants. The album boasts an impressive guest list of collaborators and weaves masterfully through a myriad of different sounds and styles.
You’re invited to join Sultans of String’s violinist and producer Chris McKhool and Canadian Musician Editor-in-Chief Andrew King for the Refuge online album launch, going live from Canadian Musician‘s Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/cdnmusician) on Tuesday, May 12 at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT).
You’ll hear songs from the album with video from the recording sessions, get the inside story on the album and how the band landed its high-profile guests, and a lot more!
You can join the stream at www.facebook.com/cdnmusician
Refuge has already won two Independent Music Awards
With the world in lockdown, the 18th annual Independent Music Awards (The IMAs) canceled this year’s live ceremony, and instead announced the year’s best self-released and indie label projects online. Sultans of String were among the established and emerging artists from around the globe to be recognized.
Sultans of String are crowdfunding this very important project
“We are so grateful that Sultans of String and our Refuge CD are among the year’s winning music projects in the The Independent Music Awards,” said bandleader, violinist and co-producer Chris McKhool. “This was truly a work of the heart, and we are so happy for these awards, to give this project and all our guest artists more visibility! Special shout out and thank you to co-producer John Bailey. Together, we traveled from Jukasa Media Group on Canadian First Nations land to New York, Istanbul and beyond to craft the sound of this epic culture-spanning album”.
The band took home the award for instrumental song for “The Grand Bazaar” (feat. Béla Fleck and Robi Botos). Producers Chris McKhool and John “Beetle” Bailey also won the World Producer award for “The Power of the Land” (feat. Duke Redbird and Twin Flames).
The IMA’s annual show and accompanying Indie Music Konference, originally scheduled as a three-day series of June events in New York City, were cancelled as a result of the global pandemic. Instead, the winners in 104 music, video and design categories, were announced this week on the IMA website and other online platforms. Branded playlists on YouTube, Facebook and Spotify feature award-winning music, artist interviews and other video content from honorees and judges created from their quarantine hideaways around the world.
The winning projects were selected by influential judging panelists including: Tom Waits & Kathleen Brennan, Robert Smith, Ziggy Marley, KT Tunstall, Dee Snider, Drowning Pool, Roberta Flack, Jaci Velasquez, Coolio, Joshua Bell, Beth Gibbons, Joe Satriani and many more indie creatives, top recording artists and industry influencers.
“This project centres around the positive contributions of refugees and new immigrants,” Chris said, recalling his own grandfather, who stowed away on a Lebanese ship bound for North America a century ago. “Each one of us in the world has a remarkable story to tell…
“For this album, we brought in over 30 special guests who are newcomers to Canada and the U.S., as well as global talents that have been ambassadors for peace,” he continued, speaking of the dynamic collaborators, many of whom are Grammy and Juno Award winners. “Refuge shares the beauty of these collaborations that feature special guests from First Nations, Turkey, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Greece, Syria, Mexico, Portugal, Cuba, and Sudan.
“We wish to celebrate the successes of those who make the journey here and bring their extraordinary talents with them. We hope the kinds of conversations we can have as musicians can provide a model for peace that our politicians and citizens find inspiration from.”
In addition to Chris (Jesse Cook, Pavlo, and collaborations with Richard Bona and Béla Fleck), Sultans of String are Kevin Laliberté (Jesse Cook), Drew Birston (Chantal Kreviazuk), Eddie Paton, and Rosendo Chendy Leon (Alex Cuba).
In addition to bringing awareness to the topics surrounding Refuge, Sultans of String have continued to raise funds in support of the UN Refugee Agency; the $8,000 raised so far in 2020 will help provide medical supplies and attention, as well as clean water and shelter to some of the 70 million displaced peoples around the globe.
