Kefaya are an international collective of musicians founded in UK by musicians and producers, Giuliano Modarelli and Al MacSween. An eclectic group of immigrants, travellers and international artists, Kefaya seek to find the common ground between folk traditions of the world with a cutting-edge sound rooted firmly in the 21st century.

On 28th December 2014, Kefaya played the first concert of their India tour in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, featuring a performance of a then untitled track originally composed and partly recorded with musicians in Kolkata. After discovering this date is the anniversary of the tragic 'Nirbhaya' case in Delhi two years earlier, they decided to dedicate this song to Jyoti Singh and the inspiring protests and social movements that followed her death.

For many years Kefaya have continued to be inspired by the scores of writers, activists and political movements that have emerged from India. Whilst sexism and violence against women are massive problems across the world, Kefaya were particularly moved by the recent struggles of Indian women and men to challenge sexism and injustice, and wanted pay tribute to the spirit of their struggle. All profits from sales of the single will be donated to Kranti, an Indian women's rights organisation based in Mumbai.

Kranti is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that empowers girls from Mumbai’s red-light areas to become agents of social change. Kranti believe that when girls have access to the same education, training, and opportunities as people from privileged backgrounds, they are able to achieve exceptional accomplishments and make a real impact on the inequalities of society. Artwork for the single was created by girls from Mumbai that the organisation has recently been working with.

Kefaya’s music has been described as “internationalist music”, “guerrilla jazz”, “contemporary world-fusion” and “global protest music” - however you attempt to describe them, Kefaya are a band that truly escape musical definition. An eclectic group of immigrants, travellers and international artists, Kefaya seek to find the common ground between folk traditions of the world with a cutting-edge sound rooted firmly in the 21st century.

After tours across India, Italy and Europe, Kefaya are gaining a reputation for their virtuosic and mesmerising live performances. Their shows are a unique synthesis of musical styles, exploring the universal connections that allow artists around the world to develop a collective voice, whilst still paying homage to their distinct traditions and identities. Their versatility and wide knowledge of musical traditions has led members of Kefaya to collaborate with internationally acclaimed artists, including legendary Indian vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, Grammy award winner Bickram Ghosh, Mercury prize winner Talvin Singh, virtuoso sitarists Niladri Kumar and Purbayan Chatterjee, American clarinet player Shankar Tucker, British vocalist Nicki Wells (Nitin Sawhney), Cuban jazz violinist Omar Puente, Afghan singer Elaha Soroor, Italian folk singer Alessia Tondo (Ludovico Einaudi), flamenco singer Chico Pere and many others.

Kefaya’s debut album ‘Radio International’ (to be released later this year) was recorded during travels and collaborations with musicians across India, Palestine, Spain, Italy & the UK, transcending musical and geographical boundaries to demonstrate the universality of beauty.  Themes such as internationalism, freedom of movement, immigration and struggle are reinforced by the concept of the album as an 'international radio station', where radio samples weave together the musical and political intentions behind the album. Tuned-in to the struggle for equality and liberation, Radio International broadcasts stories of migration, tales of musical encounter & sounds of resistance.

Preview the track right here:

https://www.oklisten.com/album/nirbhaya

Listen to the track on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFMPcVNMYaE

Track: Nirbhaya

Composed by Giuilano Modarelli & Al MacSween

Guitars: Giuliano Modarelli

Keyboards: Al MacSween

Vocals: Deborshee Battacharjee

Bass: Kenny Higgins

Drums: Joost Hendrickx

Tabla: Bhupinder Singh Chaggar

Percussion: Cormac Byrne

Produced by Giuliano Modarelli, Al MacSween and Sam Hobbs

Mixed by Sam Hobbs

Mastered by John Astley