Dorian Lynskey on protest songs and The Ministry Of Truth (ft. Musical Guest Kai Mata)

Balinese activist and singer Kai Mata interviews English writer Dorian Lynskey—author of 33 Revolutions Per Minute: A History of Protest Songs and The Ministry of Truth: A Biography of George Orwell’s 1984—on episode #106 of the Podsongs podcast.    

Challenged to come up with a song that covers both subjects, she creates an anti-protest song—an anthem for peace.

The books which inspired the song  

The first book was 33 Revolutions Per Minute, which tracks the turbulent relationship between popular music and politics, through 33 pivotal songs that span seven decades and four continents, from Billie Holiday singing 'Strange Fruit' to Green Day raging against the Iraq war. Dorian Lynskey explores the individuals, ideas and events behind each song, showing how protest music has soundtracked and informed social change since the 1930s. Through the work of such artists as Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Fela Kuti, The Clash, Public Enemy and Gil Scott Heron, Lynskey examines how music has engaged with racial unrest, nuclear paranoia, apartheid, war, poverty and oppression, offering hope, stirring anger, inciting action and producing songs which continue to resonate years down the line.  

The second book was The Ministry of Truth: A Biography of George Orwell's 1984. 1984 isn’t just a novel; it’s a key to understanding the modern world. Big Brother, the Thought Police, Doublethink, Newspeak, 2+2=5 –  Orwell’s final masterpiece gains potency and influence with every year.  Dorian Lynskey is a writer, author and columnist. His new book examines 1984  and its roots in the utopian and dystopian literature that preceded it;  Orwell’s personal experiences in wartime Britain; and the political and cultural phenomena that the novel ignited. Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction and the Orwell Prize for political writing.  

As well as writing these books, Dorian Lynskey's journalism has also appeared in titles such as The Guardian, The Observer, GQ, Q, MOJO, Empire, Billboard, Pitchfork, Spin, The New Statesman, The Spectator, The Big Issue, The Village Voice and BBC Culture. I also host the Oh God, What Now? podcast. 

Kai Mata: Musician and campaigner 

Kai Mata is an Indonesian Singer-Songwriter with a modern, quirky-folk charm and a vulnerable lyricism that intertwine to cultivate connection. With an emphasis on truthful storytelling, her shows are not solely performance, but also where audiences are invited into the world of sunlight to shadows. Her 2018 debut album, Time to Shine, brought her folksy beats to tour in the US, where she shared her experiences discovering adulthood and love, showcasing her songwriting as her medium for expressive communication.  

Since then, Kai Mata has opened for Indonesian pop-star Vidi Aldiano, performed at festivals and events worldwide (Ubud Readers & Writers, BaliSpirit, Sonic Bloom, Women’s March Bali), and has been launched into the spotlight as Indonesia’s openly LGBTQ+ Musician. Currently, she works on her second album, a piece that holds presence by exploring new themes, genres, while still anchored in her unifying message of love.

 

 

It's Not 1984

To those who call for an uprising 
And bloodshed to begin 

Who holler that the system 
must be torn down from within 

If you want to drive out the dark 
Well stand up with light in your heart 

You're acting like it's Nineteen Eighty-Four - And you need a revolution 
Screaming for a storm rage and a war - trying to tear down institutions 
Preaching hate, liberate, anger bait nothing more - we're in need of resolution 
You're acting like it's 1984 

An eye for an eye 
Makes the whole world blind 

With peace in your actions 
There's peace in your mind 

If you want to drive out the dark 
Well stand up with light in your heart 

You're acting like it's Nineteen Eighty-Four - And you need a revolution 
Screaming for a storm rage and a war - trying to tear down institutions 
Preaching hate, liberate, anger bait nothing more - we're in need of resolution 
You're acting like it's 1984 

In the cacophony, I hear a single melody 
So would you come along and sing this song with me? 

We can use harmonies to sing of what we dream this little world could be 
You can be mad, you can be angry 
In this time where words are feeling so unheard 

We write songs about our worries 
Sing out loud to share our stories 
In the hopes that someone near or far can hear our words and feel them in their heart 

You're acting like it's Nineteen Eighty-Four - And you need a revolution 
Screaming for a storm rage and a war - trying to tear down institutions 
Preaching hate, liberate, anger bait nothing more - we're in need of resolution 
You're acting like it's 1984 

Links:  

Kai Mata - http://kaimatamusic.com/ 
Dorian Lynskey - https://www.dorianlynskey.com/