STRICTLY GLOBAL

(by Dawn Reed) I'd just like to thank everyone who sent in their kind regards wishing mine and Danni's family and friends well during the disaster that recently took place in our home country of Japan.  (Danni grew up in Tokyo, and I'm from the Aomori region.)  We hadn't addressed it yet because it truly broke our hearts and was already dominating the news, but thankfully our friends and family back in Japan are alright.  And this week on Strictly Global, we will feature videos from international artists (from Colombia to Poland) who are pulling together to help out with relief efforts in the land of the rising sun.

Like Deerhoof, the San Francisco based experimental rock band that is fronted by Japanese singer Satomi Matsuzaki.  She had moved to the states to study film back in 1996, and had met Greg Saunier, co-founder of Deerhoof who'd been around since 1994.  Despite her musical inexperience, her singing style added an element that Deerhoof was looking for.  They've just released their 11th studio album Deerhoof vs. Evil, and recently had a benefit show where proceeds went to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.  After matching donations, they gathered about $20,000 (according to their facebook page)!!! Satomi is in Japan right now with her family.

We'll also feature our interview with Egyptian rock band, Cairokee, whom I met with last summer in Cairo when they were recording at the grammy award winning Ultra Studios.  Recently they collaborated to create a song that expressed the triumph that Egypt achieved this year.  Check out the beautiful video for it below.