“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for everything,” the adage goes. And Maritimer Erika Kulnys is calling on us all to “Stand Together” with the release of her new single, “Stand Together.”
Described as having “the ingenious intellect and activist zeal of Ani DiFranco combined with the poetic skepticism of Leonard Cohen,” Erika is no stranger to embracing the vulnerability of the human condition. As a singer-songwriter, she consistently uses her voice, agility in songwriting and world-class musicianship to shine a spotlight on what is lacking today.
On “Stand Together,” Erika urges us to rise up and tackle change as a global movement.
Hoping to raise awareness about the embargo on Cuba, the song’s video provides a slideshow of Erika with her loved ones — people caring for people, standing up to adversity, and standing together.
“This is a song started in Cuba, finished in Germany, recorded in the USA and produced in Canada,” Erika explained. “It is about ending the torture, internment and subjugation of refugees and migrants, and creating a culture that recognizes our common humanity over national borders.”
Ultimately, she said, “Stand Together” asks us to remember we are all members of a global family. “
The song arrives as the second single — and title track — from Erika’s recently released album; the first, her lead song, “My Choice,” became a battle cry for women’s reproductive rights.
Erika’s passion for and commitment to social change flows across each melody of the Stand Together album.
Criss-crossing the globe to weave together the music, the album leans into its international roots and features Spanish songs and international players.
The world is taking notice of Erika, who was awarded the Canadian Voice of Women’s National Award alongside El Jones for her cultural contribution toward peace.
Her song “Rise Up” found itself in the Top 10 on both Canadian and US charts, and her accolades include a $25,000 Watson Fellowship to study social justice music in seven countries.
Coming from a family fleeing violence and persecution during World War II, Erika wrote “Stand Together” as a tribute to her mother and grandmother. Her grandmother was a refugee to Colombia, and her Colombian mother an immigrant to the USA, and then Canada.
Stay tuned for Erika’s upcoming singles, “Other Side of the World,” “Sirena en la Playa,” “Fantasma,” and “Streets of Montreal” by subscribing to her YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/erikakulnys.
