As they languished in a squalid refugee camp in Guinea, the members of Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, could not have imagined what the future would hold for them.
In just five whirlwind years, the group has been the subject of an acclaimed documentary film, toured the world to support a critically revered album, appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, had their music featured in a major Leonardo DiCaprio film, and shared the stage and studio with Aerosmith, Keith Richards and other international stars.
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have risen like a phoenix out of the ashes of war and have captivated fans across the globe with their uplifting songs and pure energy live shows. The band is a tangible example of the redeeming power of music and the ability of the human spirit to persevere through unimaginable hardship and emerge with optimism intact.
Despite their success, back home in Sierra Leone it was becoming clear that even though the war was over, there were still difficult challenges to overcome the world’s third poorest country – this has only strengthened the resolve of Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars to do what they can to turn their country around. Their weapon in this struggle is music, and their message, while offering critique and condemnation of wrongdoing, remains positive and hopeful. Optimism in the face of obstacles, and the eternal hope for a better future motivates their lives and music.
The result is Rise & Shine, a masterful collection of songs that reflects how much Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have grown since their early days jamming around campfires in isolated refugee camps. The title of the album reflects the band’s desire to remain positive in the face of struggle, always greeting a new day with a spirit of excitement over what the future holds. Given how far they’ve come in just a few short years, they have reason to be optimistic. If they could not have imagined five years ago where they would be today, there’s no telling where they will be five years down the road. With an album as fully realized as this one, it’s likely they will go very far indeed.
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars – Rise & Shine Preview from Cumbancha on Vimeo.
A long time fan of Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, DJ, turntablist and producer DJ Logic has taken five tracks from the band’s acclaimed 2010 release Rise & Shine and reworked the original session files into a set of funky, dubbed out remixes. The album Rise & Shine Remixes is available direct from the All Stars at shows on their Positive Revolution Tour, on their bandcamp site, and will be released on iTunes and Amazon in the coming weeks.
As the founder of Project Logic and frequent collaborator with jazz and rock artists such as Vernon Reid, John Mayer, Medeski Martin & Wood, Jack Johnson, Christian McBride, Carley Simon and more, DJ Logic established himself as one of the go to DJs for live band collaboration. His improvisational approach to composition and production is captured on more than 8 albums under the Project Logic or DJ Logic name.
"The ability of music to transcend borders and cultures is one of its most powerful characteristics. The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars have literally survived through their struggles because of this, and I am honored to be part of this great remix." – DJ Logic
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/refugeeallstars
twitter: http://twitter.com/refugeeallstars
myspace: http://www.myspace.com/therefugeeallstars
official band website: http://www.sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com
For more info and for tour dates visit: www.sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com
