Finding Hope in People Power with MIRI
When we think of protest songs, we think through the lens of a history book, of injustices from long ago. The history books that frame the writers of protest songs as being on the right side of history. The American Civil Rights Movement, the occupation of Ireland by British forces, the myriad of songs against Thatcher or Reagan or Bush through changing musical styles but all are framed as being generally in the right.
In an age where grandmas are being arrested who remember those times, whose ancestors fought tooth and nail for women’s rights (who are also placed on a pedestal in history books), where is ‘American Idiot’? Where is ‘What’s Going On’, or ‘Zombie’ or ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’? In a world governed by greed, corruption and a justification of suffering, where is the call to halt?
When the future is written by the victors, protest songs don’t forget. While history is being erased before our eyes, there is timelessness and permanence in ‘Freedom Is The Purpose’, the new single from MIRI.
MIRI is an artist from the London area with a passion for community and advocacy for LGBTQ+ and neurodivergence in the music industry. Mixing art and activism in her work (‘Artivism’), MIRI has promoted artists through curated residencies at The Boogaloo and Green Note venues in London, and recently worked with Soundcastle as part of music facilitation delivery.
Her 2009 debut album ‘Canvas’ was later re-sequenced and reintroduced as an EP of the same name in 2023, MIRI cherry-picking the tracks that best represent that period in her early career. A successful Crowdfunder in 2015 enabled the recording of MIRI’s four-track ‘Sound Vibrations’ EP, with airplay on Radio X.
In 2019, MIRI’s ‘Soundbites’ EP stripped back her style and saw her gaining acclaim from BBC 6 Music, Clash Magazine and BBC Introducing. During the pandemic, she contributed to the R.E.M.-endorsed covers collection ‘A Carnival of Sorts’ by God Is In The TV Zine, with a piano and strings rendition of ‘Everybody Hurts’.
Outside of writing and recording her own music, MIRI is part of the FAC (Featured Artists Coalition) Artist Council, aiming to be a voice for artists in an industry where they’re often overlooked. It was for the FAC MIRI wrote an essay on the origins of Pride and its direction into corporate territory. MIRI is also a social media ambassador for The F-List, an organisation supporting women and gender diverse musicians.
As a neurodivergent musician with autism and ADHD, MIRI featured in a YouTube video for Newham Council's 2024 Autism Strategy. In the video, MIRI offers advice to the viewer and her younger self: ‘Keep knowing who you are and finding your strengths because that will really benefit you in the workplace when you get older.’
MIRI’s latest single, ‘Freedom Is The Purpose’ is supported by Help Musicians and received an early launch on Bandcamp prior to conventional streaming services. When listening to the single, MIRI encourages you to donate to or share fundraisers for the Saeed Family, Thaer Yousef and his family, to rebuild Ibrahim’s home and for Jamila’s cancer treatment.
‘Witnessed all the people fighting, witnessed all the people divided, I can feel resistance rising, testify to what was started that we will stop.’
It’s no surprise MIRI was inspired to write an opening chorus like this one, social media means we’re seeing more on-the-ground footage from war-torn areas than ever before. Particularly in Palestine, people are able to speak directly to cameras to tell you what is happening, something they couldn’t do decades ago.
MIRI vents frustration shared by us all in the first verse, ‘Can’t sleep now, don't want to speak now, greed is crushing lives, I can't rest until the week’s out.’ She’s not wrong when she says, ‘We witness bodies pile up.’ I had never seen images of dead children until they arrived on social media directly from those ravaged communities. An experience shared by many, nobody went looking for these, but the algorithm kept showing them. MIRI highlights the change in the UK’s right to protest, which is why we now see elderly people being arrested for holding signs saying they oppose genocide. Wasn’t Britain once proud to have been a part of stopping genocide in the past?
And now ‘Leaders of the world justify occupation,’ we all know what will happen to that land in the coming decades, should this persist. There’ll be hotels, golf courses, and resorts as if nothing had ever happened. We see a graveyard; they see a goldmine.
But just because this is a protest song, it doesn’t mean it also can’t move. ‘Freedom Is The Purpose’ rallies the listener not only through MIRI’s frank lyricism, but in its offbeat guitar, reggae beat and melodic bass. MIRI worked with producer George Sullivan on the track whose mix brings a closeness with MIRI’s vocal array, as if she’s speaking directly to the listener. Though tailored back in the verses, electric guitar falls like an axe between lines, ‘Empire roots are falling, corporations crawling, looting lives whilst calling for the cull to halt.’
The breakdown gives way to a spoken-word section of the song that echoes the feelings of many. In a multitude of ways it sums up the weariness caused by the bombardment of bad news we feel powerless to do anything about. Despite this, you can’t change the fact that in our hearts, we continue to know what is right and wrong.
‘Imprisoned by the drop, imprisoned by what we see on our screens, imprisoned by what we hear, imprisoned by all the information that is presented to us. We’re tired of not being listened to, we’re tired of the truth being twisted to fit an agenda, our freedom of thought will not be oppressed.’
Continue reading for our Q&A with MIRI. We talk about the inspiration behind ‘Freedom Is The Purpose’, working with George Sullivan and applying to Help Musicians for funding. MIRI also tells us about the four fundraisers she has linked to the track and much more below!
1. Your new single 'Freedom Is The Purpose' is indicative of the times we're living in, was there a particular news item that spurred the lyric on? What was the overriding emotion you felt when penning the words?
I was hanging out with my cousin the evening before I began writing it. We were talking about political violence, the rise of the far right; questioning how we navigate within this? Through social media we've been witnessing genocides in Palestine, Sudan and Congo and our rights to protest have been weaponised. I needed an outlet to express my indignation and also my hope in people power. It had been a while since I'd sat at my laptop and made a beat to write to without any intention of creating something for release.
2. George Sullivan produced this single with you, how did you link up with him? What was it like working in the studio with George?
We’ve worked on a few music projects for young people in Newham, East London. George was always kind, calm and easy to work with. I remember in one workshop thinking how I'd like to work with him on 'Freedom Is The Purpose'. I felt he’d be sensitive towards me as an artist and supportive of what I wanted to examine sonically. He was up for it. We started with one studio session to work on a treatment for the track in order to see whether we could take it further together. It was a nourishing session and I felt safe, trusting and comfortable to explore so we worked together again to complete the track. I love how we ended up using a basic SM58 mic to record my vocals. I originally tried a few takes with the studio mic but I wasn't getting what I needed with my vocal delivery. George had brought in his SM58 for me to try as we'd used that previously for the guide vocals. It worked. I felt like I was performing in a basement gig and we got the takes we needed.
3. Tell me about the spoken word sections of this song, are they original to this track, or were they sampled from somewhere else?
That’s interesting you received it as spoken word. I wanted to add a news soundbite or some vox pops in the bridge. We couldn’t find anything suitable so George suggested I try speaking over that section. I improvised and then fine-tuned what I was saying. George put an effect on my vocals afterwards to make them sound like different people.
4. When purchasing 'Freedom Is The Purpose', you're also encouraging people to donate to four Gazan fundraisers. What are some of the hardships these fundraisers could alleviate for these families?
Jamila managed to make it out of Gaza to Egypt and was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is raising money to pay for chemotherapy.
Mohammad and his family are raising funds to help them evacuate to Egypt. Mohammad is also trying to get a full University scholarship abroad because all Gaza universities have been destroyed.
Thaer Yousef and his family are displaced and living in a tent. The money will be used to cover the cost of exiting Gaza through the Rafah crossing and to secure basic necessities once they reach safety.
Ibrahim and his family’s house was flattened. They are raising funds to help them rebuild their home.
Image Credit: Tom Price.
5. Help Musicians were a part of getting this single out with their Fast Track Award. How did you make use of the grant? Is this something you'd recommend other musicians apply for?
Definitely recommend. The application form is pretty short and straightforward. I say that as someone who does not find writing funding applications easy. I used the grant to pay for Katie Tavini to master the track and for production costs.
6. You recently started working with Soundcastle as part of music facilitation delivery in London, what's that experience been like?
It’s a 3 month contract as the London branch will sadly be closing in December. I’m embracing the work opportunity to the max. The role has provided me with a nurturing team helping me to develop my practice. Some of the sessions include working with an older age group 50+ recovering from mental ill-health and then there’s sessions for babies and their families-caregivers. Working with babies and toddlers is new to me. I absolutely love it! Additionally I work on sessions with disabled and neurodivergent toddlers which has had me tearful at times. In a beautiful way not in a sad way. On top of all of that we did a few music drop-in sessions at a park in East London bringing a load of instruments, and setting them out for children to try out and play.
7. I loved your YouTube video where you talk about your experience of autism and ADHD, particularly finding your strengths and using those in your work. What advice would you give to someone navigating a recent diagnosis as an adult, especially in relation to working life?
There will be a lot of emotions that come up. An element of relief, freedom, gratitude and grief. This can be hard. In life I've always felt like I'm running to catch up with who I am. The diagnosis helped me make sense of a lot which has helped when navigating my work. You will need to advocate for yourself which can be exhausting and frustrating at times so do take care and find your people.
8. Is this the start of more music from MIRI? Have you been writing this year?
I’ve predominately been writing and recording for production music labels collaborating with other songwriters and producers on a variation of styles. One track was placed on E4 and looking at my royalty statement Wimbledon which feels surreal. As far as my own music goes, I’ll need to look into funding in the new year in order to make space to write, record and release new music. I sometimes feel quite mentally and emotionally exhausted and other times like I've got all the energy and hope for myself and the future. I need music to be a place I can have an outlet. I think I need it for my own survival. I’ve been working in music long enough to know that all you can do is show up when necessary and keep doing you.
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Download and listen to ‘Freedom Is The Purpose’, as well as MIRI’s back catalogue from her Bandcamp page.
For more information about MIRI, visit her official website.
Follow MIRI on Instagram and Facebook @miriofficialuk.
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