When R&B dance duo DRAMA announced their newest EP, Till We Die, months ago, there was no way of predicting what would inevitably unfold in the Middle East. For producer Na’el Shehade, one half of DRAMA alongside singer Via Rosa, the EP’s music suddenly took on a new meaning not originally intended.
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“Releasing music has always brought me joy, but this time around feels different,” said Shehade in a social media post. “I’ve wrestled with a sense of guilt. Struggling not to take this fortunate life of mine for granted.”
Having just kicked off their tour this week on the East Coast, with a Nov. 17 San Francisco show scheduled before their Europe dates, DRAMA is finding ways to speak out against the Israel-Palestine war while reminding everyone what it means to love one another through their music.
Like previous work, “Tighten It Up” permeates with a Chicago house influence as Rosa delivers her expectedly soulful vocals. Thanks to the addition of horns and a cowbell spread across the track, you would be hard-pressed to prevent any sort of dancing from occurring while listening. Not to mention the catchy chorus that reaches a peak when Rosa sings, “I got what you want / Salt and Pepper when we shake it out,” further cementing DRAMA’s aptitude for finding a groove in any song.
Out of the seven new tracks, “Till We Die, Inshallah” is among their most powerful, featuring Rosa’s fragile yet beautiful performance, who coasts atop the synths and cocktail-shaker rhythm. The first half is pretty straightforward but eventually evolves as sonorous strings come in the latter half, giving the track an elegant feel.
Although it seems none of the songs off Till We Die were made in direct response to the war, it’s hard to ignore how much it impacted DRAMA, given the title and Shehade being Palestinian himself. But in the continued anguish in the Middle East, the two are doing anything they can to help, whether it be sharing relief efforts or speaking out against the violence.
“Our hope for this project and all future projects is to bring as many people from all over the world together and unlock as many hearts as possible,” said DRAMA. “Let our unique friendship serve as an example of what the world can be when two strangers encourage each other to be who they were born to be.”
Words: David Sosa
Till We Die by DRAMA is out on all streaming services. For more on new music and tour dates, including their San Francisco show at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Nov. 17, follow them on Instagram and their website.
