Tony O’Malley is a singer and piano player in the soul tradition who formed the legendary groove band Kokomo. Although he has worked with pop creators 10CC, Motown’s Martha Reeves & the Vandellas and played on a numerous albums including Bob Dylan’s ‘Desire’, these days Tony prefers to concentrate on recording and performing his own music at http:tonyomalley.bandcamp.com
1. How did you come to know about The Pixel Project? Tell us why you decided to take part in The Pixel Project’s “16 For 16” Digital EP.
I’d sent ‘Nicoletta’ to mutual friend Deeyah*, who forwarded the song to The Pixel Project. Once accepted, we were more than happy to participate with Regina Yau and her team.
Editor’s note: Deeyah is a prominent musician, women’s rights activist and founder of AVA Projects working to end the scourge of Honour Killing.
2. What inspired you and Marty Townsend to write “Nicoletta”?
We wrote the song after hearing that a good friend had been brutally beaten and abused by her baby’s father.
3. Violence Against Women is usually pigeonholed as a women’s issue and it can be an uphill task getting men and boys involved in stopping the violence. Why is ending Violence against Women important to you as a man?
It’s important to me as a person.
4. Violence Against Women is a very difficult issue to talk about but with so many lives at stake, we all have a responsibility to speak up about it. In your opinion, why can music break through taboos better than simple conversation and how can we use music to start the conversation?
I prefer the music to do the talking, but it goes without saying that violence against any living creature is abhorrent.
5. In your opinion, how can musicians help encourage people to take an interest in and step up to help stop violence against women?
Musicians, singers, artists, poets and dancers can give much help to dedicated campaigners and politicians by highlighting through their art the almost unbelievable amount of cases concerning violence against women. And still most atrocities go unreported!
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Give back while giving joy this Christmas:
Searching for an affordable gift that is both empowering and uplifting for someone in need of that extra encouragement and good vibes this Christmas? Check out our “16 For 16” digital EP featuring 5 songs aimed at lifting the spirits and empowering survivors of Violence Against Women worldwide via all major online music stores including iTunes, Amazon, Google Music, Spotify and many more. Prices range from US$4.95 to US$6.45 depending on region and retailer and 100% of the proceeds go towards keeping The Pixel Project’s programmes and projects running. Just click on the buttons below to be taken to the EP’s download page in your preferred online music store:
