Poetz 4 Peace, a group of poets, singers, musicians, and studio personnel, who feel through music, just below the radar of politics, true world peace can be achieved. Mission Statement Hatred is divisive. In so many places around the world old lies and common sense half-truths pile up, decay and then rejuvenate themselves. Cyprus is no different from anywhere else in this sense. Amongst a vast ocean of misconceptions about "each other" and "ourselves" a few poets, musicians and producers have created this music with a positive message. It was no easy task. After 28 years of division, working together is still a taboo subject! For that reason, all the songs were recorded at three different studio locations and linked through the Internet. That in itself makes this one of the most unique recording projects of this new millennium. The determination to create works together is what makes Poetz 4 Peace really tick. Our mission is peace through the music - some of the most positive vibes ever to come out of the deepest Mediterranean. Musically it's about both harmony and a sense of defying the boundaries. Cultures clash, combine and fuse, creating a world melting pot where reggae stylings and hip hop riddims encounter the bouzouki and dumbek with conscious, original, soul-searching lyrics. Poetz 4 Peace intend to be transglobalculturalists with shared perspectives and without prejudices or hang-ups about who we are, where we come from and where we're going. The overall aim is to launch an independent, positive-minded music label, known as Olive Tree Music, and of course in the meantime, share some reasoning with audiences throughout the world. Who are they, these Poetz 4 Peace? Steffen Franz, Mike Minas, Zeki Ali, Mike Cherry and Haji Mike are an international collective of musicians, vocalists, poets and producers who have teamed up to make some amazing musical and lyrical fusion. Steffen Franz
aka Stand Out Selector (SOS) Zeki Ali Haji Mike
POETZ 4 PEACE BIOS HAJI MIKE Cyprus-based Haji Mike is indeed an artist on a difficult mission. Original Vraggamuffin fusionist - he was the first person to ever rap in Greek - as far back as 1990. London was then his home and an appearance on BBC TV's "Rhythms of the World" resulted in exposing Haji to a much wider audience. Simon Emmerson (Working Week, Afro Celt Sound System) saw the program and the two hooked up musically. "Mousiki" was the outcome - a single that mapped out Haji's trademark Vragga sound. Zaharias "Sugar" Hajishacalli played a key role in Haji's becoming a household and coffee shop name. Sugar gave his sound definition, an almost magical quality. 12 trips, back and forth from London to Cyprus followed in 1993 and early 1994. "Stavroulla" and "Vragaman" became the number one people's choice both live and on radio. The dream of returning to his homeland was becoming a reality through his music. But first he had to complete his Ph.D. thesis. Today he is an assistant professor in Communications focusing on Bi-Communal Relations, the subject of his thesis. He has presented at a few international music conferences such as: WOMEX, (2001, Rotterdam, Holland) and Crossroads (2002, Tampere, Finland). pon his return to Cyprus, Haji was an in-demand media personality with weekly television and radio shows. While he continues with radio on a freelance basis (WWW-Wicked Wonderful World CYBC 2), but television has taken a back seat as far as in front of the lens. He's focused more on behind the scenes work. 2001 witnessed a number of new and innovating projects. Gimme 6 show for Sesame Street Children's Workshop - Haji was employed as a scriptwriter, music supervisor and joint composer with long time collaborator Mike Minas. In fact, Minas studio has now become a permanent base for Haji Mike, and many projects have been created there. Most notable was 2001's "Weeping Island Project" - a collaboration that transcends one of the last great divides of the world - the Green Line in Cyprus. "Darkness" a powerful track on this CD was a collaboration with Tony "Mutley" Matthew (ex-Soul II Soul, now based at Britannia Row Studios.) The release was also the first time Haji Mike hooked up with Turkish Cypriot poet Zeki Ali. Ultimately, this connection led to the development of Poetz 4 Peace and collaborating with Steffen Franz. ZEKI ALI Zeki Ali was born in Nicosia, Cyprus in 1951. His first collection of poems was published in 1970, and Zeki received the attention and respect of the literary circle in Northern Cyprus. Many of his poems appeared in dozens of literary reviews in both Cyprus and in Turkey. Brought up as the eldest of three, Zeki always wanted to have a family himself. He married and has two sons of his own, one of whom is now studying English literature in the US. Between 1973 and 1992, Zeki lived in Canada. Today he makes his home in Kyrenia, and has a dream of living in a united Cyprus for many years. Zeki was one of the founders and editors of several literary reviews in Northern Cyprus, one of them, "Pygmalion", is still in circulation. Today he has six books of poetry to his credit and some of his greatest poems became songs, recorded by other musicians. Poetz 4 Peace is his first real involvement in music. All he can say is, "it's a new frontier for my poetry. Once I started... it became indispensable, and now I don't to limit myself to written word anymore." STEFFEN FRANZ aka
STAND OUT SELECTOR Steffen Franz, as Stand Out Selector (SOS), is well known as a dancehall innovator. He has been bringing his conscious reggae vibes to throngs of people from New York to the Hawaiian Islands (and San Francisco in between). A New York City native, SOS moved to Maui, Hawaii in 1991, where, at Studio 505, a nightclub co-owned by Stephen Stills, he broke the freshest dancehall tracks to scores of local people, as well as tourists from around the globe. During that time he also managed and produced Marty Dread & Culture Shock, easily the most popular reggae band in the islands. In July of 1993, he moved to San Francisco, after spending six months commuting back and forth between California and Maui, making connections and playing in such venues as Miss Pearl's Jam House & The Kennel Club. Together with former partner Stefan G. (renowned video/multimedia specialist), Positive Sound Massive, a brand new concept in global soundsystems, was formed. PSM features an array of international vocalists, rappers, toasters and musicians, including rapper Wookie J., whom SOS imported from Maui. Over the past few years, SOS has DJed at hundreds of shows throughout California, Nevada, Washington, New York and recently in Australia & New Zealand, where he played opening and break sets for the Beastie Boys "Hello Nasty" World Tour. He has produced three dozen multi-artist stageshows including the Nicodemus "Dancehall Giant Tour", and the last two Barrington Levy west coast tours. He has remixed tracks for artists such as: Barrington Levy "Work" (MCA), Capleton "Wings of the Morning" (Def Jam/RAL), Beenie Man "Tear off Mi Garment" (Island JA); and produced original tracks for artists such as Nicodemus, Ras Michael, Barrington Levy, Shinehead, Rocker-T., Jamalski, Wookie J., Karney, Sister Sara and SF local hip hop group New Dealers. Since forming PSM, SOS has been employed as Reggae Buyer for Rough Trade Records in San Francisco, and as Reggae Editor for American Music Press, a Bay Area music monthly. From 1994 through 1998, Steffen was the Production Manager for the Paradise Lounge and Transmission Theater in San Francisco and still found time to write and review for independent publications. Since leaving the Paradise Lounge in the summer of 1998, he has tour managed Mix Master Mike, traveling the globe on both of Mike's solo tours as well as with the Beastie Boys. He also fronts an alternative rock group called Crocodile Tears, plays bass in a band called Not For Not, and is a member of "biL" a dancehall, surf, hip hop, who-knows-what-else conglomeration of excellence. SOS continues to DJ at select parties all over the West Coast. Recent works include 4 of Stand Out's tracks being featured in the BET/Showtime movie "Lift", a catalog of over 60 brand new hip-hop and reggae beats, many of which have already been featured as background music on MTV's "Road Rules" and "All Star Challenge" and VH-1's "Born To Diva". This has been an exciting time for SOS as he has now opened a management company called aptly Positive Sound Management. Partnering with PSM A&R Director, Byron Schostag, PSManagement now represents Rocker-T exclusively and has been consulting with a great number of other well known, and up-and-coming artists. Look for an ever expanding stable of artists and bands in the years ahead. For more info on Poetz4Peace's release "A Pair of Olive Leaves", click here. Further details are available from: US Label Contact:
Steffen Franz aka Stand Out Selector European Label
Contact: Haji Mike US Media Contact:
Erwin Karl Available now on CD through PSM! This item ships in 24 Hours so get your copy today! Just $12.00 plus shipping and handling. One click ordering from Paypal below:
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