This is not your average music campaign! This is a project with real heart and clear purpose.

Some years ago, I wrote a song called 'Refuge' with the assistance of cellist Peter Grayling. It was a heartfelt response to the cruelty and demonisation witnessed around the treatment of those fleeing persecution and seeking asylum on our shores. The song 'Refuge' asks the simple question “If I came to your door would you let me in?” The song has always solicited powerful responses from the many people who have heard and performed it, as you can see from the voices of support below.

LISTEN TO REFUGE NOW:



'Refuge' soon found a home with the group Actors for Refugees and became an unofficial anthem, performed hundreds of times by either myself or other performers. It became part of a unique and emotional performance by members of AfR at Parliament House in Canberra, and was also featured in Michael Gurrs’ “Something to Declare”, which was performed to a full house at Melbourne Town Hall.


Rebecca Spalding, Alice Garner & Dursan Acar perform 'Refuge' with Actors for Refugees at The Malthouse.

In light of recent tragic events at our off-shore detention centres this song is, unfortunately, more relevant than ever. Good songs have always had the ability to move people to action and offer hope when you feel helpless, and we believe 'Refuge'(words below) can contribute to refocussing attention on to the fundamental questions of who we are as a nation and how we behave towards one another.

SO WHAT'S THE PLAN?
With your help we would like to highlight this issue by producing a professional recording and a beautiful music video of 'Refuge' that will reach as many people as possible. The obvious first port-of-call is Youtube. We will then aim to enter the song into various local and international human-rights based song and video competitions/festivals, to get exposure for it wherever we can. If there’s an opportunity for the song to be heard, we’ll do our best to get it out there!

We already have the support of some well-known actors, musicians and members of the public, including Jeremy Lindsay-Taylor, Corinne Grant and Anne Phelan OAM, who feel strongly about this issue and want to lend their voice to The Refuge Song Project, by taking part in the music video. We are confident more voices will come on board as the project progresses. Very exciting!!

THE TWO PHASES OF THE REFUGE SONG PROJECT
Phase 1 - The Recording: Working with the amazing Simon Paul at Studio ninetynine 100 in St.Kilda, we will produce a gorgeous crisp recording of 'Refuge' performed by Rebecca J. and the Core.
**IMPORTANT UPDATE:
As you may have already read in the updates section,we have taken a leap of faith and gone ahead with Phase 1-the recording of Refuge!We hope you enjoy it and are inspired by it.
Please see Soundcloud link above if you would like to hear the song.

Phase 2 – The Music Video: We will then work with award winning director Alexei Mizin to make an elegant music video worthy of the world stage, with the aim of launching the music video on World Refugee Day on 20 ^th June, 2014.

We'll also let you know who is else will be part of the project as participants become known. Stay tuned!

THE BAND
Rebecca J. and The Core is a wonderful mix of young and seasoned performers with a blues/roots leaning featuring:
Rebecca Spalding – vocals
Kylie Whyte – double bass
Billy Mathieson – keys
Brannon Haycroft – resonator guitar
Tom Doublier - drums

SO HOW CAN YOU HELP?
You can help by contributing to the success of this project with a pledge that feels comfortable for you. As you will see there are variety of great rewards to entice you, or there is also the option to give any amount you would like. To do that, you just need to choose the "No Reward" tab on the pledge page and follow the prompts.

But whether your contribution is small or large, it will be tremendously appreciated and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you have contributed to something beautiful and that, in a small way, your voice can be heard. A big, big thank you to everyone in anticipation, that we can indeed give 'Refuge' wings.

The Words to Refuge
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If I came to your door would you let me in?
Exhausted and worn would you give me refuge?
If we stood face to face and I told you my tale
Of fear and despair would you give me Refuge?

How do you sleep when you know I am there?
Do the barbs of my cage pierce the calm of your dreams?

If I swallowed my pride and sank down on my knees
If I offered my soul would you give me refuge?
If I held you so close that our hearts beat as one
If my tears touched your skin would you then give me Refuge?

How do you sleep when you know I am there
Do the barbs of my cage pierce the calm of your dreams?

Would you give me refuge?" © Rebecca Spalding

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SUPPORT FOR THE SONG

Corinne Grant - Comedian, Actor and Writer. (Watch Corinne's Video Message)
"Hi, my name is Corinne Grant and I've know Rebecca Spalding since we met in Actors For Refugees well over a decade ago. Rebecca's talent is incredible and her commitment to refugee advocacy is never ending. This is a wonderful song and it deserves support, and it deserves a bigger audience as well. Music has the ability to uplift and it also has the ability to inspire. And with your help, this song can inspire many more people. Please give as generously as you can."


Jeremy Lindsay Taylor - Actor. (Watch Jeremy's Video Message)
"Hi I'm Jeremy Lindsay Taylor. Rebecca Spalding's song 'Refuge' will always have a special place in my heart. I was lucky enough to witness the lasting effect it had on people during my time with Actors for Refugees. It touched people, it reached people. It's power and humanity should be experience by as many people as possible so please help us make this happen by giving generously. Thank you."


Anne Phelan OAM - Actor. (Watch Anne's Video Message)
"Hi my name is Anne Phelan and I've had the great privledge working with Rebecca and also singing 'Refuge', which I won't be doing on this video by the way! However I have a great personal love of this song and have used it many times when I've been talking about asylum seekers and refugees, because for me, the song sums up an awful lot. It says it all and people really, really get the message by listening to this song. Sometimes the most awful thing about the plight of asylum seekers and refugees coming to this country, or worse, to our off-shore detention centres, is that feeling of 'but what can I do to change things?' So by pledging to this project that will allow the song 'Refuge' to become a video clip, you can do something, and you can help and say to our government and to our leaders 'Not in my name!'"

$2500 - Recording, mixing, mastering of the song at studio ninetynine100.
$600 - Musicians fees.
$8000 - Full video production, including crew and pre and post-production. etc.
$900 - Admin, publicity, promotion,Pozible fees.


Any additional funds will be put towards optimising the video production, merchandise and promotion.

Our biggest risk is not reaching our Pozible goal.