Small Island Big Song

"Our voices silenced, our songs and languages banned, the land lost its custodians." 'Listwar Zanset' draws from the heart of Emlyn, a song inspired from the story of maroon slaves of Mauritius; the untold heroes of the slavery on her island. When slaves were brought to work in the cane fields, their singing was silenced, in turn their culture disconnected. Emlyn hums in solidarity with her ancestors, building to an overwhelming crescendo… meeting Putad from the Amis people of Taiwan, the two together reclaiming their identity, that was hidden and repressed by colonization and slavery. Selina Leem joins them sharing the core focus of the song, “their people displaced, their land taken, my land, drowning” highlighting the affect of the sea levels rising, forcing her people to leave their ancestral land. 'Listwar Zanset' unites the Indo-Pacific, a vast regions sharing similar pasts, histories and current climate consequences. LISTWAR ZANSET is a collaboration of - MAURITIUS Emlyn - Lead Vocals, Ravanne, Triangle, Kalimba, Percussions, Kokol - Ravanne Kan Chan Kin - Ravanne TAIWAN Putad of Outlet Drift - Lead Vocals 戴曉君 Sauljaljui - Moon Lute MARSHALL ISLANDS Selina Leem - Spoken word MADAGASCAR Tarika Sammy - Vocals, Valiha TAHITI & FRANCE Luc Totterwitz - Electric Guitar PAPUA NEW GUINEA & AUSTRALIA Airileke - Kundu & Warup drums AUSTRALIA Tim Cole - Korg MS20 Music Video director Kan Chan Kin Videographers Kan Chan Kin, Ajay Boodhoo, Tim Cole Drone Kan Chan Kin, Cameron Hanson Music Producer & Mixer - Tim Cole Recording - Tim Cole, Kan Chan Kin, ​Tafita, Luc Totterwitz, Andrew Reissiger Project producer - BaoBao Chen _____LYRICS _____ Emlyn - Originally in Creole Mauritian Sometimes I wander How it was back then In chains for days and nights We will remember all the braves that wanted to be They fought for us to be free today Wanting to be free They fought for us to be free today Putad - Originally in Amis of Taiwan Such a beautiful place. They took it away. “What are you saying?” “I don’t understand” Learn our language. Even at the end we have nothing left I believe the land and ocean will protect us We are going to be part of Kawas Selina Leem - Originally in Marshallese & English The ancestors Our islands/lands Land Their people displaced, Their lands taken, My lands, drowning Supported by Taiwan Creative Content Agency Australia Council for the Arts 'OUR ISLAND' album out 31 Dec' 2021 www.smallislandbigsong.com