GRRRL, A Global Collaboration
An international super-group featuring women of colour from international conflict zones
GRRRL is an electronic music collaboration between revolutionary women, brought together by In Place of War. GRRRL music is directed by Brazil’s Laima Leyton (Mixhell/Soulwax), and the project features an exhilarating mix of influential artists, including Zimbabwe’s Rapper Queen AWA (African Women Arise), The Queen of Brazilian Dancehall Lei Di Dai, The Young Lioness of Africa Wiyaala, UK/Bangladeshi vocalist Sohini Alam, and DJ and Percussionist from Caracas, MABE.
GRRRL’s debut EP was released in 2018, and included an unreleased track featuring Charlotte Adigéry ‘Light Up (Beautiful Freak)’.
CONFLICT
Women of colour from conflict zones are amongst the most marginalised people in the world. From the gang war favelas of Brazil, to politically oppressed Zimbabwe and post-Apartheid South Africa – women in these conflicts are often limited to the home and a life without hope. They are often discriminated against in the name of religion and tradition, abused by men in the community and their voices are frequently silenced.
ACTION
In Place of War decided to address this lack of women’s voices and created GRRRL - an electronic music collaboration between revolutionary women from places of conflict expressing themselves on their terms, in their languages, with their stories. Together, these fierce influential artists have worked with Laima Leyton (Mixhell/ Soulwax) to create a music and touring project that powerfully tells their collective stories and demonstrates how artistic creativity can conquer conflict around the world.
RESULTS
GRRRL has involved forty women over two years, with performances across some of the biggest global festivals including closing the Commonwealth Games in Australia. They have performed to over half a million people. An album has been released and the artists have developed a huge media profile across platforms including the BBC, Vice and Noisey, to tell their stories and inspire women in areas of conflict around the world.
