CHICAGO, IL — I got my first guitar when I was 7 and I haven’t stopped making music since. It is the most important part of life to me and I’m so grateful that I’m able to spend so much time with it. When I’m not making music, the #1 priority is to address the very grave issues that we face here in Chicago, as a country, and as a planet. Among the many prices we pay for capitalism and colonialism are climate change, racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, xenophobia, terrorism, and white supremacy. We cannot afford to pay these prices any longer. When, as a rule, white supremacist police murderers are acquitted in the face of video evidence—when Republicans ask for anti-establishment leaders and elect billionaires—when those billionaires choose to harm the planet in ways that will significantly hurt them later in their own lifetimes—it is clear. It is clear that we’re not fighting a battle of wits and the battle will not be won with debate or intellectual discourse. We will have to pursue other strategies. I believe that one of those strategies is art. Real reversal of selfish thinking often happens not on an intellectual level but on an emotional level. Music, poetry and art of all kinds will bring us to the emotional place where an effective change of heart can occur.
I am committed to a global, anti-capitalist class movement that makes the world a better place for all of us. I aim to play a role in that collective effort where I’m listening as much as I am acting. I’m committed to making my privileges and resources available to the movement as tools for revolution and not tools of oppression. Obviously, this is a learning process and we live in a quickly changing world. This album reflects (some of) the opinions I have at the time it’s being released. My greatest hope for these songs is to inspire conversation, mobilization, and strategic revolution. Let’s talk about what works, let’s also talk about what’s problematic with this record. Together—so long as those with power of all forms are willing to listen and make real sacrifices and those without power have a modern, all-inclusive analysis that drives collective action—I do believe we can fix the world.
As my music is mostly bringing focus to struggles that I don’t experience first-hand, it’s important to me that I don’t profit off those struggles. It’s also beautiful to me to think about art leading directly to action. With all that in mind, my promise to you is that 90 percent of the profits from my music will be given to a relevant organization, which will rotate on a monthly basis. You can always visit the “ACTION” page of jedsongs.org to see this month’s cause and learn how to get involved with them.
Hear JED’s new record Nitemare In Driemland today at jedsongs.org/music/
