Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa have attributed the cancellation of their upcoming UK concerts to “censorship and silencing” prompted by pressure from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The pair, who have collaboratively produced music for many years, have faced increased scrutiny due to their continued performances in Israel amidst ongoing military actions in neighboring Gaza. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has protested against their UK performances, accusing Greenwood and Tassa of using their art to obscure the severe realities of genocide.
Artistic Freedom Under Fire
The artists responded by stating, “Preventing musicians from performing and barring audiences from experiencing their art are clear acts of censorship and silencing. Coercing venues to cancel our performances will not contribute to the peace and justice that is desperately needed in the Middle East.”
PACBI, one of the founders of the BDS movement, has repeatedly expressed that Greenwood and Tassa’s connections with Israel extend beyond mere cultural exchange. This assertion gained traction after a concert in Tel Aviv in May 2024, where the duo played while atrocities were reportedly committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians in Rafah, only a short distance away. Greenwood has countered BDS criticisms in the past by claiming that the movement unfairly targets Israeli artists simply because of their nationality.
In response to their recent statements, PACBI brought up an instance where the duo performed at the Tel Aviv club Barby, which had previously distributed controversial T-shirts to Israeli Defense Force soldiers in 2014. PACBI has also called for a boycott of future performances by Greenwood’s other projects, including his band Radiohead, unless they clearly dissociate from what PACBI describes as Greenwood’s ongoing role in diminishing the gravity of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Album and Artistry
The album that Greenwood and Tassa are promoting, titled Jarak Qaribak (Arabic for Your Neighbour Is Your Friend), is predominantly a collection of Arabic love songs, featuring artists from Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Iraq. Palestinian singer Nour Freteikh also contributes to the album, alongside other artists from various parts of the Middle East. Greenwood and Tassa have expressed that their music has been criticized for being too inclusive by some on the political right, while others on the left accuse them of using their music to absolve themselves of wrongdoing. They expressed concern about how the cancellation of their concerts might be exploited by various political factions.
Comparative Backlash
The article also draws parallels to the controversy surrounding the Irish rap group Kneecap, who faced backlash after condemning Israel’s actions against Palestinians during a performance at Coachella. Controversial comments by a band member led to investigations by UK terror police. A collective of artists, including Massive Attack, Pulp, and Fontaines D.C., condemned the efforts to censor Kneecap, highlighting a perceived double standard in the treatment of artists based on their political expressions. Greenwood and Tassa noted the irony of those defending Kneecap’s freedom of speech while seeking to suppress their own.
In concluding their statement, Greenwood and Tassa expressed deep respect and admiration for all the musicians involved in their project, particularly praising the courage of the Arab artists who have joined them. They hope that audiences will eventually experience their music live, emphasizing that such an event would celebrate their mutual respect and love for music, transcending political or national victories.
Jonny Greenwood’s connection with Israel is longstanding, dating back to a Radiohead tour during the Pablo Honey era, which left a significant imprint on the band. He met his wife, Sharona Katan, an Israeli artist of Egyptian and Iraqi descent, during this tour. In a poignant personal note, their nephew, an Israeli Defense Force sergeant, was killed in Gaza in 2024, further deepening the personal stakes Greenwood holds in the region. One of their concerts in Israel that year was organized in his memory.
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Naomi lives and breathes music. From underground indie artists to global pop icons, she’s always got her ear to the streets.