Charleston Massacre

Music of the world 006: An interview with Tomas Doncker, musician from New York, USA.

/ Monica Ingudam / Leave a comment
Location: New York, USA.
Styles: Blues/Global SoulAlbum Release: The Mess We Made

“It all started on The day of the Charleston Massacre.  The heinous events which occurred on June 17, 2015 pushed me over the edge.  I was overwhelmed with rage, hatred, confusion and disillusionment.  I had no place to put these feelings.  I had no idea how to process them.  In a selfish attempt to maintain my own sanity I did the only thing I could do — write about it. By Sunday, June 21, I had written 4 new songs and within ten days I had recorded the 8 songs that would become  The Mess We Made.”

He shared about the power of music and believe that Music is the weapon of the future. When the music is good, people are drawn to the music and the message is heard. He believes that our culture is supposed to reflect the time we live in but where are all the artist ? Why aren’t they commenting on our time ?
“There are good things about America and there are bad things about America as it is in any other place. America is a very racist place. Why would anyone want to go to a church and shoot a bunch of old people praying ? That is evil, just evil. The news of Charleston massacre was so terrible that I was sick, physically sick, afraid, upset and wrote these songs to take the poison out of my system. It was pure self therapy and music saved me. “
We also spoke on piracy and how nobody pays for music anymore, on Technology giving us access to information or disinformation filling people’s mind with hatred.
Presenting an interview with Tomas Doncker, musician from New York, USA.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston_church_shooting

http://www.tomasdoncker.net

MI_S03_withlogoBorn and raised in the violence-torn landscape of the Indian state
Manipur, I have a vision to promote and spread inspiring, empowering, educative & entertaining stories. I believe we can do this together by finding the voices, voices which needs to be heard and shared, voices of the people, people all over the world. I believe that these voices will bring a change and connect all of us. Presenting the voices in our series of “Music of the World” sharing music and the thoughts of the artist from all over the world. Contact us to be a part of this series.

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Music of the world 001: Tomas Doncker protesting for the Charleston Massacre through his music

/ Monica Ingudam / Leave a comment

When I read about the rage, hatred, confusion and disillusionment Tomas Doncker shared over the Charleston Massacre, and how he has put his feelings into the songs he wrote and made for his Album “The Mess we made”, I had to look up and listen.

For those who don’t know about the Charleston Massacre, on June 17, 2015, a 21-year-old white man opened fired on a group of people inside the  Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States. The shooter was quoted to have said “I have to do it. You rape our women and you’re taking over our country. And you have to go.” 9 people died, all African-American, out of which 6 were women and 3 were men, killed by multiple gunshots fired at close range. This was clearly a hate crime of racism.

Looking up on Tomas Doncker’s biography, it’s interesting to note that his musical vision is global. Starting from New York, his work went across Japan, China as a singer, songwriter and producer.

Most recently, I was asked by a young student from my native place Manipur on how effective are music sung for a cause. Coming from a conflicted place and seeing different kind of protests leading to more violence, I would say protesting via music is a very peaceful form of protest. The Album “The Mess We Made” is Tomas Doncker’s  way of protesting for the Charleston Massacre. It’s a strong way of non violent protest sharing his rage, hatred, confusion, disillusionment of this hate crime of racism. Music have no boundary and will travel across the globe like his music has reach me. “Time will tell” is my favorite amongst  his Album “The Mess We Made”.

And we stick together fighting racism and hatred.

Here is the link to listen to “The Mess We Made”

Album trailer for “The Mess We Made”

 

MI_S03_withlogoBorn and raised in the violence-torn landscape of the Indian state
Manipur, I have a vision to promote and spread inspiring, empowering, educative & entertaining stories. I believe we can do this together by finding the voices, voices which needs to be heard and shared, voices of the people, people all over the world. I believe that these voices will bring a change and connect all of us. Presenting the voices in our series of “Music of the World” sharing music and the thoughts of the artist from all over the world. Contact us to be a part of this series.