18 December 2018
Newsdesk
Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Michael Franti and his band Spearhead are set to release their new album, Stay Human Vol. II, via Thirty Tigers in the UK on 25 January 2019. Franti is also releasing his new self-directed documentary, Stay Human, digitally on 25 January 2019. Following a series of successful screenings throughout the U.S., the film will receive it's UK premier at a special, intimate appearance at London's Bush Hall on Tuesday 15 January, which will feature an introduction by and Q&A with Franti, as well as an acoustic performance by Franti accompanied by Carl Young (bass, vocals) and Victoria Canal (keys, vocals).
The writing on Stay Human Vol. II—which is co-produced by Franti alongside Ben Simonetti (Zac Brown Band, Shemekia Copeland, Blake Shelton), Niko Moon (Zac Brown Band), Kevin Bard (Fitz & The Tantrums) and others—was heavily influenced by Franti’s work on his new documentary. Franti explains, “I’ve traveled the globe making music and throughout the years I’ve always hoped that it could inspire small steps towards making the world a better place. Struggling with the challenges of the world I began filming my new documentary, Stay Human, telling the stories of heroic everyday people who helped me to discover more deeply what it means to be and STAY HUMAN. Stay Human is all about finding ways to hold on to our humanity during challenging times like the ones we are living in today.” Stay Human has won an array of awards while on the festival circuit, including the RWJ Barnabas Health Award at the 2018 Asbury Park Music & Film Festival, the Audience Award at the 2018 Nashville Film Festival, the Audience Award and the Voice for Humanity Award at the 2018 ILLUMINATE Film Festival and the Soul in Cinema Award at the 2018 Maui Film Festival. The film will be available on DVD and Blu-ray in the spring.
Franti is a globally recognized musician, humanitarian, and award-winning filmmaker known for his high-energy live shows, uplifting music and worldwide philanthropic efforts. In Stay Human, he takes the audience on an experiential journey through his songs and stories of people around the world who have chosen to overcome cynicism with optimism and hope.
Franti began writing music as a way to process both the political landscape of the late 1980s and the unique sounds and ideas of his Bay Area upbringing. In 1994, Franti formed Michael Franti & Spearhead. Touring with his band, Franti continued to notice inequality and injustice both at home and abroad. The band released their seminal Stay Human album in 2000, reflecting on the unjust nature of the death penalty among other themes, to make sense of our common humanity in juxtaposition to near constant violations of human rights.
Franti released his first self-directed documentary, I Know I’m Not Alone, in 2005 to widespread critical acclaim. The film depicts his mission for peace in the Middle East, with a focus on the human cost of war. Franti visited war zones in Iraq, Israel and Palestine again finding common connection, playing music to both soldiers and civilians regardless of affiliation.
Michael Franti & Spearhead continue to foster the community both on and off stage and with Michael and his wife Sara’s foundation Do It For The Love, a wish granting nonprofit that brings those with life threatening illnesses, veterans and children with severe challenges to concerts. His recent musical projects have included the Billboard #1 single “The Sound of Sunshine” (2010) and full-length releases All the People (2013) and SOULROCKER (2016), which topped the Billboard rock album charts at #4 and #5, respectively.
STAY HUMAN VOL. II Tracklisting:
1. Little Things
2. Just To Say I Love You
3. The Flower (feat. Victoria Canal)
4. Only Thing Missing Was You 2 (feat. HIRIE)
5. Stay Human 2
6. Summertime Won’t Last Long
7. This World Is So F*cked Up (But I Ain’t Ever Giving Up On It)
8. You’re Number One
9. Enjoy Every Second (feat. AGodess)
10. Nobody Cries Alone
11. Extraordinary
12. When The Sun Begins To Shine
13. Show Me Your Peace Sign
14. Take Me Alive
