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This week I was proud to be invited to play after the closing ceremony of the largest conference on issues relating to Burma in the world, over 1000 participants, held every two years in Chiang Mai, on the Thai-Burma border. I played with some amazing Burmese musicians, proud to support the pro-democracy resistance to the brutal military takeover of the country

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Last month I was honored to be presented with Timor Leste (formerly East Timor’s) highest honor, The Medal of Timor for contribution to the country’s human rights and democracy. The Medal was presented at a ceremony by Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos Horta, followed by a celebration at our non-profit AJAR’s office. About 200 people, mostly human rights defenders and survivors of serious violations, joined hands to dance the amazing Timor “tebe tebe” solidarity dance that was so important to bring people together and maintain hope during the dark days of the 24 year-long Indonesian military occupation. Traditionally it is the women who hold the power to drum the powerful beats behind the dance, circling with drums under their arms.

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Oh Le Le Le (Music Video): https://youtu.be/bHRMwfG5fkM?si=l_PFbEjBht6voS1p

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I continue to be flooded with communications from people in Timor Leste, and also Burma, over the resurgence of my song Oh Le Le Le, written in the voice of the spirit of resistance to oppression. The caption they share is: “This is real music,” with the video of destruction and hope after conflict. The ‘real’ quality of the music is thanks to the amazing contributions of friends in the studio, including Rob Hirst and Martin Rotsey of Midnight Oil and DC from the Ghostwriters on bass. Listen for Martin Rotsey’s incredible lead solo in the middle.  I hope Rob is smiling from above and it just may be that the Timorese, deeply intuitive after all the suffering they’ve been through, can feel his input in the song…Rob Hirst was a master of ‘real music,’ amazing and inspirational, which we need all now more than ever. The whole world misses you, Rob but your legacy is so strong, even in remote villages of Timor Leste..

Oh Le Le Le (Music Video)