Greek singer, songwriter, and music producer Marina Satti, along with Madhouse Records, have donated the revenues from Satti’s newly released music video “Ah Thalassa” (Oh Sea) to support UNHCR’s (The UN Refugee Agency) work with refugees. The song pays homage to tens of thousands of people who have perished attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
Directed by Cyprien Clément-Delmas and produced by Hiersoir (France) and Nomad Productions (Greece), the music video contrasts idyllic summer scenes of the Mediterranean coast with poignant close-ups of personal items at the sea floor belonging to those who lost their lives in the sea, as well as clips of floating life vests and border fences, bearing witness to this ongoing human tragedy that is often overlooked.
The video concludes with a message, reminding viewers that at least 29,984 people have died in the Mediterranean in the past decade, among which 1.274 were children.
Lena Kitsopoulou, a Greek actress, writer, and theater director, wrote the lyrics for “Ah Thalassa,” which include:
“…Without love
I don’t want to live here on land
But you are so calm my sea
Mirroring birds
But I am a wave…”
While this initiative comes amid record global levels of forced displacement, with 120 million people having fled their homes due to conflict, violence and persecution, Satti’s example underlines art’s role in reflecting and resonating with its era.
On her part, UNHCR’s Representative in Greece, Maria Clara Martin welcomed this tangible act of solidarity with refugees by Marina Satti noting: “Rarely does a week pass without stories from across the Mediterranean and elsewhere of people losing their lives while trying to escape conflict and human rights violations. This news has become appallingly normalized. We are grateful that artists like Marina Satti use their powerful voice to call for an end to such tragedies. They strengthen our urgent plea for a meaningful response. Saving lives, sharing responsibility, and solidarity must be at the heart of such a response.”
“Ah Thalassa” is part of Marina Satti’s record-breaking latest album “P.O.P. which hit Global Spotify Debut Albums Top10 and the Spotify Top Albums Debut UK charts, making Satti the first ever female artist to simultaneously hit the No1, No2 and No3 spots on the “Spotify Greece Top200” chart.
The young multi-awarded singer, who represented Greece in the Eurovision contest earlier this year with her entry “Zari”, was born in Athens to a Sudanese father and Cretan mother. She has a diverse cultural and artistic background, and has developed a unique sound that combines the different musical traditions she grew up with, such as Greek, Arabic and Balkan with urban elements and rhythm.
