War Child Canada Releases First Single From War Child: 10
October 28, 2009

Unique Sierra Leone collaboration launches campaign
(TORONTO, ON) - The first single from War Child’s tenth anniversary album – War Child: 10 – will be released on October 9th, 2009 through Universal Music Canada (UMC). The track, Let It Rain, is a unique collaboration between Sierra Leone born/Canadian based singer, Sy’rai and Artists United for Children and Youth Development (A.U.C.A.Y.D.), War Child partners and young musicians from his original home of Freetown.

In early 2000, Sy’rai fled Sierra Leone with his siblings to avoid the atrocities of a civil war that was notorious for recruiting child soldiers and displacing over a third of the country’s population. He settled in Victoria, B.C, became a Canadian citizen, and eventually embarked on a music career.
 
In summer 2009, Sy’rai was finally able to return to his home country on a War Child field mission. Not only was he able to visit his father’s grave (his father passed away in 2002), he also contributed, along with his record company Street Quality Records, to building a youth-based War Child project with Artists United for Children and Youth Development (A.U.C.A.Y.D.). This group of young people use music, drama and dance to reach thousands of youth in Sierra Leone who have experienced the devastation of violence and war. 
 
“Let It Rain” was inspired by and recorded during this visit. A song about recovery and rebuilding after devastation, the song was written by Sy’rai, Rupert Gayle, Derek Brin and Nathan Beswick and features various members of A.U.C.A.Y.D., including the head of the group, Luxonjay. The video was shot in Freetown and shows the beauty of a recovering country and its people.

Sy’rai said, “I am really grateful for what War Child Canada has done and is continuing to do for the people of Sierra Leone and all around the world. I’m honoured to be working with these amazing people.”

War Child: 10 marks the 10th anniversary of the charity’s founding in Canada. The album, which will be released by Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company, will feature a selection of some of the extraordinary music donated to the cause over the years, as well as exclusive new recordings. It includes music from some of the world’s biggest artists, including Coldplay, Radiohead and a brand new recording from Wolfmother.

For more information, please contact:

Tyson A. Parker
Vice President, National Media & Artist Relations
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Universal Music Canada
tyson.parker@umusic.com
Office Direct: (+001) 416 718 4065