Category Archives: 16 For 16 Digital EP

“16 For 16” Digital EP Artiste Interview: Sarah Carpio

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Sarah Carpio is a Mexican independent singer/songwriter. At the age of 7 she began piano lessons; then her dad taught her to play the guitar. By the time she was 12 years old she was writing her own songs and playing the drums. Her unique music style and lyrics are full of energy and have opened opportunities for her to perform at Art Galleries, Bars and urban events. Her music has taken her to Mexico, USA, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Canada and Spain. Her message? Hope, Love, Faith and FREEDOM.

1. Tell us about “Break Free” – what or who inspired you to write the song?

The lyrics are from my good friend the Poet for Freedom Meg Nezaj. While reading I could picture every word, and I wanted to add the intention to it by placing the words on the right places and giving the interpretation of the feeling women facing and surviving violence have – a feeling of desperation and then a feeling of relief because somebody heard their cry for help.

2. You took part in the Fall 2012 YouTube Cover Carnival earlier this year and now you have contributed your song “Break Free” to the  What makes you so supportive of The Pixel Project’s “Music For Pixels” campaign?

I’m honoured to be part of The Pixel Project’s campaigns because they are taking action in giving a voice and support to women that are being hurt. I believe I can use my music to support and raise awareness.

3. Apart from Music For Pixels, you are also an active participant in the Global Freedom Concerts that raise awareness about human trafficking and slavery (which is also a type of gender-based violence) What drives you to share the your musical gifts in aid of this difficult cause?

I think that using my music to do something else than just singing – having a cause – is really powerful. I can make the sound of freedom heard in every place I perform or where my songs are played. Being part of Global Freedom Concerts has also given me a platform to keep on growing in influence and having an awesome team of freedom fighters all over the world with the same cause. We are a big family who supports and cheers for each other.

4. In your opinion, why can music break through taboos better than simple conversation and how can we use music to start the conversation?

Because music it’s an universal language, it opens peoples ears and can reach their minds and hearts, that’s why I like to sing about hope, faith, love and freedom.

5. What would you say to musicians who are unsure about whether to get involved with difficult causes such as Violence Against Women?

Having a cause to sing for – raising your voice for someone who doesn’t have a voice – is the best thing you can do. Music changes, people change, but a cause stays and affects positively not only this generation but the ones coming up behind us. We are leaving a legacy and saying NO MORE!

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Give someone an empowering musical gift:

Searching for something empowering and uplifting for someone in need of extra encouragement and good vibes? 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. The EP will be available for download until 28 February 2013. Just click on the buttons below to be taken to the EP’s download page in your preferred online music store:

Music For Pixels Interview: Tony Grant of Perilous Landings vzw

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The Belgium-based video production company Perilous Landings vzw came to be involved with the Music For Pixels campaign with its founder, Tony Grant, was roped in by Tony O’Malley to produce the music video for his song ‘Nicoletta’ that was selected as one of the five songs on The Pixel Project’s ’16 For 16′ charity digital EP. In this interview, Mr. Grant talks about why he supports the cause to end violence against women and what filmmakers like himself can do to help raise awareness of this human rights issue.

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picasa roskam 16 (1)1. Tell us about Perilous Landings vzw and how you came to be involved with The Pixel Project’s “16 For 16” digital EP under their “Music For Pixels” campaign.

 Tony: Perilous Landings vzw is based in Belgium providing video production services and the creation of multimedia content for distribution on CD-ROM, DVD, Blue-ray and the web as well as producing for broadcast and exhibition. Perilous Landings vzw makes low budget films for cultural and historical groups at the community level.  We offer an affordable “production house” facility to the smaller and and budget restrained organizations and community groups by having “Precious Legends” only charge expenses and equipment costs to a project and a small percentage to help fund Perilous Landings vzw. We combine our artistic and technical skills to produce a product unique to the client and also that makes good business sense for their needs.

My great friend Tony O’Malley brought the “16 for 16” project to my attention.  We both feel that violence against women is a very important topic that is not talked about enough.  We know that abuse to women by men happens on a daily basis and it is very important that they can find support from understanding people who are able to help them. Continue reading →

Music For Pixels Partner Interview: Mike and Michelle Stevens from Lost Monkey Studio

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1. Tell us about Lost Monkey Studio and how you came to partner with The Pixel Project on music campaigns such as the YouTube Cover Carnival and how you are helping with the campaigns.

Mike and Michelle: One of our label artists wrote a song that represents hope and new life for women who are suffering or have suffered violence. He really wanted to donate the proceeds of this song to help end violence against women, and we ended up finding The Pixel Project. All of the hard work, motivation and passion Regina and her team have shown, has made us proud to be partnering with them. Lost Monkey Studio has since worked on the Youtube Cover Carnival campaign with Music for Pixels, and donated studio time, mixing/mastering and production for the winners of that contest. Continue reading →

“16 For 16” Digital EP Interview: Tony O’Malley

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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. Continue reading →

“16 For 16” Digital EP Artiste Interview: The Other People

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The Other People were formed in July 2004 in Mumbai, India. They are known to audiences for their exciting performances and adding an original twist to every song they perform. T.O.P has opened for the international artistes including Saving Abel, Michael Learns to Rock, DJ Edward Maya, DJ Diamond, Lacuna Coil and Bedouin Soundclash; and have performed alongside Pop sensation Jay Sean. The band is currently expanding their repertoire of original songs and is in the process of recording their debut album. They are also the winners of The Pixel Project’s Fall 2012 YouTube Cover Carnival contest.

1. Congratulations on winning the Grand Prize in the Fall 2012 YouTube Cover Carnival contest! How does it feel to win while helping the cause to end Violence Against Women?

Thank You! It’s the best feeling The Other People have had in 8 years of being together. Just being able to work with The Pixel Project to help raise awareness baout Violence against Women is a privilege in itself and having won the grand prize in the contest makes it even more worthwhile. Now in our own small way, we can hopefully contribute to bringing an end to violence against women the world over.

2. With 1 in 3 women worldwide facing gender-based violence in their lives, pretty much everybody would know a woman or girl who has faced some form of violence. In fact, India has been voted as the worst country for women among the G20 countries. Has any of the members of The Other People been affected by or witnessed Violence Against Women and how has that help shape your attitude towards women and girls?

Hearing of such incidents and actually witnessing them is not the same. We have been fortunate not to have witnessed these violent acts against women first hand; however, it is something we read and hear about daily – the daily news is all about rape, acid attacks and women being beaten up. We hope never to witness such atrocities and try our best to educate people through the cause we are supporting. Continue reading →

“16 For 16” Digital EP Interview: Pete Ahonen

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Pete Ahonen, an East Bay native / singer-songwriter — pairs his blend of ‘alt-country / folk-rock’ with an incredible knack for storytelling, a unique voice and raw, honest delivery that draws the listener in and makes them feel like they’re witnessing something real… something special. When you see Pete perform, you definitely get the impression that he’s not just playing the music — he is the music. Pete’s  first full-length release recently launched in November – 2012 through Lost Monkey Records.

1. Tell us why you decided to take part in The Pixel Project’s “16 For 16” Digital EP.

Your heart and your music together have a way of becoming stagnant if you’re just thinking about yourself all the time. You see all these musicians who make a lot of money, who have big record contracts, and who are just too self focused. I believe that we weren’t created this way – we were made to give pieces of ourselves back to others and I hope this song can do that in some way.

2. What inspired you to write “A Day Will Come”?

I was watching a documentary about human trafficking and one of the stories in particular really got to me. Basically a woman was kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery. When the authorities had presumed her dead, her husband didn’t give up and continued searching for her. He finally rescued her after 7 years, and all the obstacles and personal hell she had to face in the aftermath were both humbling and inspiring.  “A Day Will Come” was inspired by her story, but it’s not necessarily just about that. It’s really a metaphor that’s meant to reach people on many different levels. Continue reading →

“16 For 16” Digital EP Artiste Interview: AHMIR

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1. AHMIR has been The Pixel Project’s YouTube Music Ambassador since you started as their “Artiste of the Month” back in April 2012. Since then AHMIR has been actively involved with The Pixel Project on the Fall 2012 YouTube Cover Carnival and now, the “16 For 16” digital EP. What makes you so supportive of The Pixel Project and their “Music For Pixels” campaign?

Sing-Sing: We are supportive of The Pixel Project and their “Music for Pixels” campaign because their stance on violence against women aligns directly with ours. For a number of years we have discussed ways of using our platform, as artistes, to bring awareness to this issue. Once we got word of The Pixel Project, we jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with them in support of their campaign. Continue reading →

LAUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT: The Pixel Project’s First “16 For 16” Charity Digital EP

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25 November 2012: The Pixel Project is proud to present their first annual 16 For 16 charity digital EP featuring songs from YouTube and other independent artistes from around the world saying NO to violence against women (VAW) while raising funds for The Pixel Project. The EP is launched on the International Elimination of Violence Against Women Day as both a Music For Pixels programme as well as a part of The Pixel Project’s year-end 16 For 16 campaign in honour of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

The 16 For 16 digital EP is the third Music For Pixels programme to kick off in 2012. Regina Yau, Founder and President of The Pixel Project said: “Music For Pixels mainly concentrates on working with YouTube artistes. However, since we started the campaign, we have also been contacted by artistes who do not have a presence on YouTube but are keen to use their music to speak out against VAW. We developed the EP as a platform for showcasing their anti-VAW music via YouTube and digital downloads.”

The EP includes 5 artistes from around the world. Each artiste has created a music video PSA of their song in the Music For Pixels format which includes artiste statements against VAW and key global VAW statistics. The EP is headlined by AHMIR – YouTube’s #1 R&B group and The Pixel Project’s YouTube Music Ambassador. Other participating artistes are: Pete Ahonen – a Folk-Rock singer-songwriter and Lost Monkey Records artiste from California, USA; Sarah Carpio – a Pop singer-songwriter and anti-human trafficking activist from Mexico; The Other People – a Pop-Rock band from India and winner of The Pixel Project’s Fall 2012 YouTube Cover Carnival; and Tony O’Malley – a Jazz-Pop singer-songwriter and pianist from the UK.

Ms Yau said: “Music is one of the most powerful ways of spreading important social justice messages that would be difficult to talk about otherwise. With VAW being a taboo topic in many cultures and communities, we and the artistes on board this EP hope that this collection of 5 songs will inspire listeners worldwide to break their silence and take action to stop VAW in their communities. The songs are specially selected or written to boost the spirits of women and girls who have experienced and survived VAW and to bring a little hope in their lives over the year-end holiday season when incidences of VAW (especially domestic violence and female genital mutilation) spike.”

This limited edition EP is available from 25 November 2012 to 28 February 2013 from major digital retailers worldwide including iTunes and Amazon. With prices ranging from US$4.95 to US$6.45 depending on region and retailer, it is an affordable way for the global online community to give to the cause. Thanks to the pro bono distribution services of Horus Music and the generosity of the participating artistes, 100% of the proceeds will go towards supporting the development of The Pixel Project’s Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign that is currently in beta mode and is scheduled for launch in 2013. The Pixel Reveal campaign aims to raise US$1 million in benefit of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, The Pixel Project and other anti-VAW nonprofits around the world.

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For further information, visit the “16 For 16” digital EP introduction page and FAQ page.

  • To buy the digital EP on iTunes (US$6.45), click here (also available on iTunes worldwide – just adjust your country of origin when buying).
  • To buy the digital EP on Amazon.com (US$4.95), click here.

For any further inquiries, please contact The Pixel Project team at info@thepixelproject.net.    

About The Pixel Project (www.thepixelproject.net)

The Pixel Project is a complete virtual, volunteer-led global 501(c)3 nonprofit organisation whose mission is to raise awareness, funds and volunteer power for the cause to end violence against women through innovative, powerful viral campaigns across various online and virtual channels including social media. Their first project is the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign which aims to turbo-charge global awareness about VAW using social media while raising US$1 million by getting a global audience to collectively unveil a million-pixel mystery collage of Celebrity Male Role Models at US$1 per pixel.

About the Music For Pixels Campaign (http://music4pixels.thepixelproject.net)

Music For Pixels, a campaign by The Pixel Project, is the first music-based social media campaign to exclusively collaborate with YouTube artistes speaking up to prevent and stop VAW through music video PSAs while raising funds for the cause via digital music downloads. The campaign currently comprises 3 distinct programmes including Artiste of the Month, the YouTube Cover Carnival contest and the 16 For 16 digital EP.