Abortion access benefit compilation NOISE FOR NOW VOL. 2 is out on June 21 (pre-order), and they’ve shared another track from it. David Byrne and DEVO‘s “Empire” previously appeared on Volume 1 of the compilation, which was available for purchase on Bandcamp for 24 hours only; it’s now on other streaming services for the first time, and you can hear it below.
“Years ago, I did a record called Feelings in which I collaborated with different musicians on the songs,” Byrne says. “I worked with members of DEVO on 2 songs, one of which is on the album. The other one, ‘Empire,’ is an ironic capitalist fascist anthem and, at the time, I thought our version was just too mean and caustic for release. Well, times change, and it certainly resonates now in ways it maybe didn’t then. It was a joy to work with the DEVO guys, they knew exactly what the song is about.”
DEVO’s Gerald Casale adds, “We were on board working with the dark satire of David Byrne’s ‘Empire’ over 30 years ago. The song was prescient and we got it. Now it can be heard!”
“Freedom of Choice is what you’ve got. Freedom from Choice is what you want. (DEVO 1980). Unfortunately the forces of tyranny are striking with impunity now,” Casale continues. “These bad actors are not Pro-Life so much as they are Anti-Choice. They want women to live in a real life version of The Handmaid’s Tale. But there’s more of us who respect human rights than those who want to crush those rights. Freedom of Choice is a constant fight. DEVO salutes NOISE FOR NOW for their efforts to save a woman’s right to abortion.”
Proceeds from the compilation will benefit independent abortion providers throughout the US via Keep Our Clinics, and it also features songs from Faye Webster, The War on Drugs, Courtney Barnett, MC50 ft. Arrow De Wilde, Big Freedia, SOFIA ISELLA, Julia Jacklin, Becca Mancari, Claud, and Seratones’ AJ Haynes. Pre-order it here.