GAZA, Aug 4 (Reuters) – An accountant, two attorneys, an agronomist and a Swiss humanitarian employee have fashioned Gaza’s first rock band, giving voice in English to the ache of battle within the Palestinian territory.
The unlikely group obtained collectively greater than two years in the past to create Osprey V, posting video clips on-line and projecting an aura of thriller by retaining their faces hidden.
Now, the band is able to step into the limelight, with songs steeped within the feelings of the Israeli-Palestinian battle.
In April, a month earlier than an 11-day battle between Gaza militants and Israel, they carried out in “Reside for Gaza”, an internet live performance to boost funds for musicians within the Palestinian Territories. Professional-Palestinian activist Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame additionally took half.
The band’s songwriter, Moamin El-Jaru, mentioned Osprey V needs to convey each a common message and one distinctive to Gaza, run by the Islamist Hamas militant group since 2007.
“I attempt to deal with conditions or issues that face all people on the earth, however as a result of I got here from a spot that has been cursed with so many wars and conflicts, I attempt to say that from my perspective, from my place from Gaza,” mentioned El-Jaru, a lawyer by career.
“We’ll scream our ache – are you able to hear the decision?” implores one of many band’s songs, “Dwelling”.
Lead singer Raji El-Jaru, an accountant and Moamin El-Jaru’s cousin, was the driving pressure behind the band’s formation, calling it the realisation of a childhood dream.
At a rehearsal, he instructed Reuters that Osprey sang in English “so everybody will perceive and everybody will likely be touched by the message”, which he described as a “scream of anger towards the injustice”.
And for Moamin El-Jaru, the music’s title “Dwelling” has a poignant which means for Palestinians displaced by battle with Israel.
“Once I sing about residence, I’m singing (about) residence for Palestinians and all people in a tough state of affairs that does not get to really feel (at) residence,” he mentioned.
Talking from Switzerland, drummer Thomas Kocherhans mentioned he joined the band three years in the past whereas doing humanitarian work in Gaza.
“Once I heard them for the primary time, I used to be actually shocked, however within the superb sense. I simply by no means thought such high quality music would exist in Gaza,” mentioned Kocherhans, who needed to go away Gaza earlier this 12 months after his mission ended.
Regardless of an absence of curiosity in Western music in conservative Gaza, the band, named after a fowl of prey, has excessive hopes for achievement.
“I’d like to grow to be the Palestinian Metallica or Pink Floyd, Roger Waters,” Raji El-Jaru mentioned.
Modifying by Jeffrey Heller and Giles Elgood
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