Music is the universal language that unites us all as humans, independent of race, class, or gender; It can make us happier and inspire us to see life from new perspectives. With this post, we are launching a new category in our blog called #InspiringProjects for showcasing inspiring people and projects that make a difference and create a positive impact. The idea is to feature different initiatives that inspire and motivate us, hoping that they will touch your heart too. We want to spread some good news and shed light on relevant initiatives that use the power of music to create better realities, that build connections between people and social groups, or that simply touch us.
In times of struggle, resistance, and uncertainty, music is the oxygen that keeps us breathing. However, in conflict zones such as Palestine, musicians struggle to turn their passion into a career and need ongoing support. Initiatives such as our first featured project came to help fill this gap: The Palestine Music Expo (PMX). The local NGO reunites musicians and younger generations from Palestine who share the same goal—to build a platform for creativity and debate that ignites a sustainable music industry in the region.
For Palestinian musicians who unfortunately have limited access to cultural events, PMX unites local and international artists under the same roof to build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. The music expo happens yearly in the West Bank and aims to connect Palestine with the rest of the World through music and display a vibrant music scene that suffers from the region’s volatility.
Since its inception in 2017, PMX attracted an international crowd comprising famous attendees such as legendary music producer Brian Eno, Lebanese singer and songwriter Yasmin Hamdan, and music journalist Larry Leblanc. Unfortunately, the organizers canceled the 2020 edition because of the covid-19 pandemic and are currently planning new ways to host the event in a post-pandemic world.
Co-founder Rami Younis believes the festival is as much about the collaboration between musicians as it is about breaking stereotypes. Younis describes himself as a Palestinian activist. As the festival organizer, Rami Younis takes industry insiders around the West Bank to showcase the daily lives of people living in the region and what it’s like to live under occupation.
Besides promoting local artists to international audiences, PMX aims to improve the Palestinian music scene’s infrastructure. Among several projects in development, they recently built a recording studio in Bethlehem in partnership with the NGO In Place of War and are planning a special edition of the PMX in the Gaza Strip in collaboration with the Delia Arts Foundation.
For PMX, the most important thing is creating a sustainable ecosystem where musicians can live off their art. They created an online artist academy where they release hour-long webinars covering music production, music business, and how to create a fan base.
The impact of PMX in the careers of local musicians materialized during the first edition in 2017. The duo TootArd showcased their unique blend of disco beats, pop hooks, and a melancholic approach to songwriting. Since then, Brothers Rami and Hasan Nakhleh toured relentlessly around Europe, with a performance at the Greenbelt Festival and signed a deal with a major booking agency. “Arabs are people who have boiling emotions; they write sad love songs. Maybe it’s how we cope, to try and understand the struggle”, explains Hasan.
Ettijah, a rap group founded by four young women from a refugee camp close to Bethlehem, experienced firsthand the influence of the event on the West bank. The group had their most significant performance to date at PMX, where they performed their songs to a crowd of over 700 hundred people.
Even against all challenges that arise in a country such as Palestine, it’s refreshing to see the impact that an NGO like PMX has on local musicians’ lives. Their contribution is unparalleled in such a short time, and their legacy is getting consolidated day by day. The future is bright for the Palestinian music industry, and PMX is carving its place in history one pulse per minute.
The Delia Arts Foundation is grateful to be working together with the PMX on projects to foster the Palestinian music scene and facilitate the artistic journey of local Palestinian talents.
Click here for more information about the work of the Palestine Music Expo.