Standing strong for abuse survivors and raising awareness for the cause, Australian/ Sri Lankan artist ELSZ delivers a powerful song and video on International Women’s Day.
Noticing the global crisis present with the violence committed onto women, the musician uses her platform to remind the public the pain and the effect it has on survivors. Creating a beautiful song that captures the soul of many women out there who may be too afraid to speak out, ELSZ hopes to bring strength to the women and enlightenment to others. Partnering up with French filmmaker Joseph Paris, the two artists released the documentary style music video for her new song “Poison”. The two activists put together their art and passion in a collaboration that may reach more people about a topic that’s sometimes shut out.
Paris is a butterfly activist who works through a collective of artists and other activists in a group called “RADICAL CINEMA”. Through his documentary work he began to follow women’s rights group FEMEN, and their revolt in Ukraine. The filmmaker won an award for his documentary, titled “Naked War” and brings his artistic vision to “Poison” in the form of contrasting lights and darks and striking backgrounds. Providing the visual art and representation of the female artist, Paris secures the impact of the song with the help of his direction and camera.
ELSZ hopes to bring together communities across Sri Lanka, Australia, and the rest of the world to form grass root initiatives in order to provide and protect female survivors of violent hate acts. Coming off of her debut feature length album Blue Scar, released last year, ELSZ establishes that the direction of her music has not changed. Steeped in her background as a poet, harpist, and experimental artist, she combines traditional and modern aspects of music together to create a unique sound. Throw in a passionate understanding of the pain of the rise of violence against women, the fellow survivor and musician not only speaks her mind but sings it as well.
With haunting vocals and a light array of musical instruments, “Poison” depicts the tale of an abuse survivor. ELSZ’s voice that shifts between airy notes and rooted rhythm captures listeners and pulls them into the song. The strong lyrics tie together with the music to present a unique song that brings the impactful quality of spoken poetry, and this is all just within the song. ELSZ presents on International Women’s Day her ode to the strength of female survivors in the form of her music video for her new single. The music video artistically starts off with a dark backdrop and a vulnerable ELSZ, immediately incorporating the internal feelings that most women feel in abusive situations. Then the vivid scenery and symbolic clothes and props show the true meaning of the song. Reaching out to fellow survivors and to the general public in hopes to raise awareness for the injustice regularly done to women, ELSZ presents her artistry and strength with “Poison”.
