MEDIA Photos
PRESS RELEASE
4/19/2020
Media Contact:
Travis Taylor
541-292-4329
easternsunz@gmail.com
Eastern Sunz Support Oregon Food Bank with Timely New Single “Welfare”
For Immediate Release:
PORTLAND, Ore., April 19, 2020 – Fresh off of their Independent Music Awards nomination for Album of the Year, the Portland based hip hop duo Eastern Sunz are set to release their new single “Welfare” on Friday, May 15. In coordination with the release, they will be raising money and awareness for the Oregon Food Bank.
“There can be a lot of misconceptions about social services and a stigma attached to people who receive assistance, which we felt necessary to address on 'Welfare'. We wrote this song pre-pandemic, but much of the theme is more relevant than ever right now.” explains Aaron Harris (stage name Courage). “We had a chance to meet with the team at Oregon Food Bank and see first hand how much they help the community. They are currently seeing a dramatic increase in requests for food assistance as people lose their incomes, so we wanted to find a way that we could contribute during these difficult times.” adds Travis Taylor (stage name TravisT).
All proceeds from downloads of the song will be donated to the Oregon Food Bank, as well as all sales of a special T-shirt collaboration with prominent Portland street artist Wokeface. Eastern Sunz will also be pledging their time to volunteer at the food bank and offering exclusive giveaways to encourage people to join them.
The song features production by SmokeM2D6 (K Records/Old Dominion) which forgoes samples and instead enlists a team of live musicians to recreate an interpolation of an obscure soul song from the 70's. Rahim Thornhill not only sings the nostalgic hook, but also plays guitar on the track.
“Welfare” will appear on Eastern Sunz forthcoming new album which was just selected from thousands of submissions as a nominee for the 18th Annual Independent Music Awards Album of the Year. The IMAs recognize exceptional work by indie creatives from around the globe and celebrate everything that makes indie music authentic and unique.
Starting Friday, May 15, “Welfare”will be available to download on BandCamp and will be streaming on all digital music platforms including Spotify.
More information can be found at:
www.easternsunz.com
www.oregonfoodbank.org
www.independentmusicawards.com
About Eastern Sunz:
Eastern Sunz provide a fresh take on sociopolitical issues which has landed them the John Lennon Songwriting Contest grand prize, the Eco Arts Awards grand prize, first place in The International Songwriting Competition, and The Independent Music Award for Album of the Year.
The Oregon hip hop duo consisting of Courage and TravisT have been recording and performing music together for over a decade. They have worked with such artists as Grammy award winner Macklemore and Swedish Music Hall of Fame inductee Promoe. Their dynamic live show features a full band and has kept them touring across North America and overseas, as well as helped them make a name for themselves on the festival circuit.
Website: www.easternsunz.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/easternsunz
Instagram: www.instagram.com/easternsunz
Twitter: www.twitter.com/easternsunz
Media Contact:
Travis Taylor
541-292-4329
easternsunz@gmail.com
Lyrics
COURAGE
Without a dime in my pocket, I’m down like the linoleum
ill my landlord and the puppet masters holding them
Live from the podium rhetorical nonsense
As we drift from the one percent constant
(I’m walking a line) and on the other side are schools and opportunity
We got a food desert and an officer pursuing me
Economically depressed in perpetuity
Calls for unity is lunacy you’re losing me It’s keep calm carry on
till someone who lack the means to keep the lights on
Detonate a time bomb
Teams selected and the lines drawn
And you’re the right pawn if logic secondary to an icon
Just spirits orbiting cash, wear benevolent mask, desperate grip on a benevolent past
American Dream flicker like a fading marriage
Upward mobility a fraud like god, I need a job
Behold the impacts of late stage capitalism
free the petty decision, no alternative vision
The deck stacks and get rapid like a space ship
Don't slip they'll be taking everything you came with
CHORUS
Oooooh, I’m walking the line I’m living on welfare baby
I’m walking the line I’m living on welfare baby
I’ve been on welfare since the day I was born
I’m getting those checks now, but it’s not what I want
I just wanna walk with my head up high
Be able to look my own dead in the eye
What's bugging me is when I'll be a man who's got a little dignity
TRAVIS T
They got me walking the line like Johnny, but no cash
The money flow come slow and go fast
Holding back the crying, relying on programs
The folks laugh at my food stamps like oh SNAP
At the job they got my hours cut down to below half
And soon they'll have the robots replacing my old ass
Middle class shrinking, we're sinking, it's so sad
Income inequality, poverty's toe tag
The fridge is empty, and far from a stocked kitchen
Not to mention, that I ain't got a pot to piss in
They treat me like I milk the system, because I need assistance
In an attempt to flee my miserable existence
Live within my means but even so it's so expensive
So excuse me if I get defensive being told I'm parasitic
Remember this, the budget's such a small percentage
Compared to corporate interests, subsidies and tax incentives
Chasing status and racing up the ladder
Climb another rung, those below you don't matter
This dog eat dog got em frothing at the mouth
The haves and have-nots, the haves got clout
CHORUS
Oooooh, I’m walking the line I’m living on welfare baby
I’m walking the line I’m living on welfare baby
I’ve been on welfare since the day I was born
I’m getting those checks now, but it’s not what I want
I just wanna walk with my head up high
Be able to look my own dead in the eye
What's bugging me is when I'll be a man who's got a little dignity
