ELEANOR TURNER

Lullabies for the Land is out on Bandcamp. It is a body of work with an important message, delivered through the stoic yet peaceful medium of songs sung by parents, grandparents, siblings and caregivers every second of every minute of every day, across the planet.

Please enjoy the album, it was created for you! I have been truly blessed to have received YOUR generous support with this project and I would like to take this moment, this PROUD moment, to tell you about two special people who have inspired and encouraged me to bring the album to completion. They are not blood relatives but they have become hugely important to me.

Right now, in Gaza, Muhannad Abu Hamada, a young nurse who has graduated from University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza City, is volunteering with the organisation Anera helping women and children who have been displaced and need health care. Muhannad is like a son to me and I care deeply about him, his mother and his little brother, Jamil. As a family, they rely on the small gifts Muhannad receives from Anera and the kindness of strangers. It was Muhannad's messages of encouragement to me that sustained me whilst I was recording the last few tracks for the album.

Right now in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, a horrifying situation unfolds every day with new threats and injustices. My friend Bush Sebar, professional dancer and educator, is one of the founders of the Invisible Kids Academy, whose videos showing their incredible talent and dedication often go viral on socials. Bush and I met online through humanitarian activism; Bush uses his talent to help the Academy to provide food, hospital treatment for children (typhoid and malaria are rife) and education. The situation in Goma is disastrous with the M23 rebels (a lawless and growing terrorist group) kidnapping and murdering people of all ages. Despite this, the children remain positive and work hard, creating music and dance performances for local and national festivals.