New Release: Not An Easy Road

Donate to Bronzeville/Kenwood Mutual Aid (BKMA) via Akasha:
PAYPAL: https://paypal.me/akashaband
Venmo: https://venmo.com/Doug-Bistrow

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Akasha is pleased to present a new song & music video, “Not An Easy Road” featuring a ton of special guests to help raise money for Bronzeville/Kenwood Mutual Aid (https://linktr.ee/bkma)!

Musicians are hurting right now. Financially, of course, but also because they are unable to reach people with the healing power of their art form. It is reciprocal healing that takes place!

In this spirit, Akasha is collaborating with many other musicians of different genres to promote a feeling of togetherness and unity during a time of isolation, while raising money for a good cause.

If you would like to donate you can do so via:
PAYPAL: https://paypal.me/akashaband
Venmo: https://venmo.com/Doug-Bistrow

Doug Bistrow, Akasha bassist, began finding ways to support other friends and musicians. We wanted to use this opportunity to reach out to musicians we love but might not have had the opportunity to work with during the ‘normal times,’ with everyone’s schedules being so busy.

The guests on the new single do not really have reggae backgrounds, but bringing in musicians from all over the map was important to us!

The new single is an arrangement of Buju Banton’s hit “It’s Not an Easy Road,” and features Chris Siebold (Garrison Keillor, Howard Levy), Malcolm Brown (Whitney), JoVia Armstrong (JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound), The Oh Yeahs, The Lowdown Brass Band, Jim Gailloreto (Metropolitan Jazz Octet), and Mike Bruno (Spare Parts) alongside Akasha. The song was mixed by Anthony Abbinanti and mastered by Rollin Weary. The video was edited by Eric Snoza.

The release of the new music video coincides with a fundraiser for Bronzeville/Kenwood Mutual Aid (BKMA). Lead singer Cosmos Ray volunteers with the organization and has been very passionate about mutual aid’s focus on solidarity over charity and neighbors, not saviors.

BKMA focuses its mutual aid efforts in the Bronzeville and Kenwood neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago but works with allies throughout the city and Cook County. Any donations will be used directly to support neighbors in need around the city and county. The musicians on the project all donated their time free of charge. However, an anonymous benefactor has pledged to match donations to BKMA in donations directly to the musicians. Donors will receive a link to download the song.

If you would like to donate you can do so via:
PAYPAL: https://paypal.me/akashaband
Venmo: https://venmo.com/Doug-Bistrow

“It’s not an easy road… but you are not alone!”

1 Love,
Akasha

“Not An Easy Road” – Buju Banton

Cover version by Akasha

Special Guest Artists:
The Oh Yeahs – https://www.theohyeahs.com/
Chris Siebold – https://www.facebook.com/ChrisSieboldMusic/
Lowdown Brass Band – https://www.lowdownbrassband.com/
Malcolm Brown – https://www.whitneytheband.com/
Jim Gailloreto – https://www.facebook.com/jim.gailloreto
JoVia Armstrong – https://www.joviaarmstrong.com/
Mike Bruno – https://www.sparepartsmusic.com/

Produced by Doug Bistrow – https://audiobistro.net/
Mixed by Anthony Abbinanti – https://happyasalark.com/
Mastered by Rollin Weary – https://www.deluxerecordingstudio.com/
Video editing by Eric Snoza – https://snostudios.com/