by Nick Papa
On May 12th, 2008, a magnitude-8 earthquake devastated China’s southern Sichuan province. Over 88,000 were killed and more than 5 million displaced and left homeless. Over a year later, rebuilding continues while many still remain separated from their families and loved ones.
Afterquake is an album dedicated to those affected by the Sichuan earthquakes of May, 2008. Produced by American folk/gospel banjo extraordinaire Abigail Washburn and Dave Liang of electro-revisionist Shanghai Restoration Project in cooperation with Sichuan Earthquake Relief, Afterquake is a collection of poetry, songs, and sounds from the earthquake zone to raise awareness for victims still in need.
The album creates a unique narrative delicately juxtaposing the sadness and tragedy wrought by the disaster with victims’ determination and courage to move on and rebuild. From the San Fransisco Gate:
“Recorded and produced in Sichuan over a few weeks in February, the seven-song EP — now dominating the Amazon and iTunes electronica charts — is a startling blend of East and West, raw and polished, old and new. Curated by Washburn, who approached Liang with the concept after her visit to Sichuan in December, “Afterquake” isn’t built around performances by either artist. Instead, it takes traditional music sung by students from Wenchuan, the town at the quake’s epicenter, and blends in ambient sounds reflecting that community’s ongoing efforts to dig itself out of the wreckage, revive its spirit and rebuild.”
You can buy Afterquake HERE. You should. It’s for a great cause!