Cross Posted from ABC
North Carolina musicians have formed a new organization to record a compilation of original protest songs to support the weekly Monday protests organized by the state chapter of the NAACP against the policies of the Republican-controlled Legislature.
The group, N.C. Music Love Army, formed in less than a week, said musicians and Jon Lindsay of Charlotte and Caitlin Cary of Raleigh, who also are the group’s organizers. They assembled artists to record an EP-length album Sunday in Raleigh after a public rehearsal Saturday in Durham.
Their inspiration for the group came from a song that another musician posted online titled “We Are Not for Sale,” protesting legislative policies on fracking, the environment, voting rights and other issues, they told The Herald-Sun of Durham.
Lindsay also has posted a protest song titled “N.C. GOP, You Don’t Know Me.” Cary, who plays violin and has worked with Lindsay, came home after participating in a Moral Monday event and heard Lindsay’s tune, which made reference to Haskins’ song.
“I got on the phone with (Lindsay) and we started talking,” Cary said. “We both said, ‘We have to do something,’ and this is what we know how to do.”
The N.C. Music Love Army will record the songs in the style of “We Are the World” with both soloists and choruses, Lindsay said. Among those participating is Grammy-nominated artist Tift Merritt, who grew up in Raleigh.
All proceeds will go to the NAACP, Progress NC and Planned Parenthood. A live performance is being planned for the fall.