We live in a digital age, which has given birth to a global community united by the internet, infrastructure and media- which grows and develops daily at a pace which far outstrips the heartbeat of simple thought and human emotions. We grow up learning about religions and how their messengers from God have the key rules to life, but we are also told about the biological processes of our existence, which is a totally different story. With the high levels of communication of modern society one can gain an insight into foreign issues as well as problems closer to home, thus our awareness can be broadened or stretched. Who do we help? Do we send money abroad/travel to other countries to aid people through our own empathy (gap years) or do we fight battles closer to home and ensure ourselves a better environment to live in? This whirlwind of information can render us the products of confusion making it hard to remain humble and in touch with our surroundings.
The arts are a valuable form of expression in which the soul can take refuge from the world be it literature, visual arts or music. Thus anything in art that challenges important issues warrants respect for the bravery to comment upon issues without fearing the need to water down the ideas. It is said that the written word has more power than the spoken word and music is the combination of both!
In recent musical history The Levellers, Billy Bragg, Bad Religion, Bob Dylan and The Clash- are bands that inspire. It is the impassioned sound of reason from their music that Handshake takes influence aswell as a whole host of others. Remember, these words you are reading are an insight into what triggers song writing and motivation in Handshake, it is not building them up to be lords of anti establishment and a bunch of self appointed do gooders- hell no. The music is humble and melodic played with traditional instruments and sung with lyrics from the heart and mind.
In a world ruled increasingly by superstition and intolerance, socially aware music seems about as necessary now as ever before.
