When Molly Tilston started piecing together the beginnings of a new song – a stirring and overtly emotive political protest song called Ceasefire – she knew instinctively the direction it needed to take.
Molly: “I’d just spent a whole morning witnessing these horrible videos that we’re all seeing on our phones. Genocide on our screens. I couldn’t cope with it. Like so many, I’ve felt helpless watching the devastation unfold. So I did the only thing I knew how to do — I wrote. As soon as I started writing it, I could hear a choir and I could see it being performed in the Unitarian Church in Todmorden.”
As envisioned, the end result was duly performed and recorded live in the Unitarian with Molly’s band The Paper Hearts and, newly assembled, The Ceasefire Choir. While very much instigated and led by Molly, the rich sense of collaboration and community that comes across in the film is essential to the overall sentiment of the project.
“The song has been created in solidarity, fuelled by grief, and driven by hope. It brings together musicians, medics, teachers, social workers, councillors. People who care deeply and wanted to act.”
The performance film aims to raise urgent funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). The song itself is, appropriately, a demonstrable show of strength and defiance, an appeal for mass participation and positive action. This is no frail, acoustic lament. It is immediate and impassioned with fiery, brisk, staccato chords – not unlike Laura Marling’s Rambling Man or Devil’s Spoke from 2010 – accompanied by stark lyrics, clarion trumpet and a resounding, strident, ‘all-in’ chorus.
Ceasefire is a remarkable anthem in its own right but is, perhaps, made all the more striking because of a real lack of protest art in the world right now. You could argue that, Kneecap aside, most musicians have done little to take an active stand against the atrocities in Gaza, other than doling out social media platitudes. It’s a perspective that is shared by Molly.
“I think Kneecap are bloody brilliant and kind of paving the way for a movement. But part of my drive for writing Ceasefire, as a little known folk singer, was the frustration that not enough people, musicians in particular, are speaking out and using their platforms. I thought, ‘where are our Christy Moores and our Sinead O’Connors?’ I’ve been listening to Sinead O’Connor a lot. She spoke up for the people of Palestine for years. She’s greatly missed right now.
“I’ve always been aware of what’s been going on in Palestine. At the minute, I feel very, very connected to my Irish roots and heritage. My mum was Irish and always talked to me about Palestine.There’s a strong connection between Irish and the Palestinians, for obvious reasons.”
Molly is in the middle a songwriting surge and has found herself leaning ever further into political realms. Having been “in and out of the music scene” for 10 years, she found herself suddenly brimming with creativity again last year, albeit in very trying circumstances.
“It was one of the most challenging years of my life to date. I became homeless with my three children and we ended up in temporary accommodation. Thankfully, I got put in Todmorden. I was basically living in a hotel room – with my guitar – and I got back into music. It really kind of saved my life. I’ve met lots of amazing musicians in Todmorden. I started writing again and playing lots at The Golden Lion, but my writing at that point was still quite personal. Then this song came, Ceasefire, when me and the kids had got housed and everything was a bit more settled.
“I’m writing so much at the minute and songs are getting more political and I feel like they’re more important. I’m gonna just keep writing and writing. I can’t think of much else than the children in Gaza right now. So throwing everything I can into The Ceasefire Choir feels like the right thing to do.
“This project isn’t just about music. It’s about refusing to look away.”
Donate to ‘Medical Aid For Palestinians’ – www.justgiving.com/page/theceasefirechoir
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Ceasefire draws on the skills and passions of many talented people in the Calder Valley…
Molly Tilston and The Paper Hearts: Vernon Bigsby on guitar, Lotte Marceuo on double bass, Teal Bain on percussion and Rick Burrows on trumpet.
Plus, Kirsty Doody on piano, Terry Logan leading the choir.
The Ceasefire Choir consists of: Kirsty Doody, Terry Logan, Vernon Bigsby, Rick Burrows, Steve Tilston, Margaret Robson, Damien Barber, Budley LaRoar Teal, Lotte Har, Alice Fellows, Ruth Hansen, Scott Archer-Patient, Sarah Courtney , Mark Dickson , Liz Pea, Daz Jones, Martin McGroarty, Don McGinley, Simon Manfield, Mossy Knolle, Becky Loney, El-la Loui, Paul Murphy, Ali Wood and Michael Prior.
The audio was mixed and mastered by Peter Duggal, Archie Dewis (The Lounge Society), Vernon Bigsby and Richard ‘Wally’ Woodcock (Pepperjam). The film was made by Scott van der Zanden Photography & Danny Hardaker.
Image credits: Scott Van Der Zanden
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