Looking Ahead • Bassel & The Supernaturals

There's nothing like a standout concert to transcend for a few hours. Beyond the therapeutic healing performance is capable of internally, music wields the power of message, communication, and perhaps most importantly, the empathy that comes with storytelling. These are all handy tools for combating external negatives in the world on a tangible level. With his funk group Bassel & The Supernaturals, Bassel Almadani is trying to take the beauty of his music and use it to bring real change.

“I’m running from myself again
Quite a living apparition, I’m surely disheveled
While I wait and sing they’ll take care of everything
Black clouds are threatening to swallow us whole”

Based in Chicago, the first generation Syrian artist is working to find peace in the chaos of the last few years. Bassel has seen his country, family and friends endure heartbreaking losses, including the murder of his cousin in Syria, as well as the death of their bassist in April and in the midst of all this, losing his house to a fire. To say the least, life has proven to be as much thorn as rose, and it's impossible for Bassel & The Supernaturals not to address this. Music is the salve, and their new song "Lost" is an attempt to navigate as the floor crumbles beneath your feet. The track has an undeniable groove to it, but there's a thread of pain stitched throughout, an aching for escape.

The "Lost" release party will be held at Schuba's tonight, Friday the 19th, and is the reason we bring this post to you. Yes, they shred, but as a group often referring to themselves as "Syrian Heart - Chicago Soul", Bassel & The Supernaturals are using their talents for something larger than themselves. A portion of the proceeds of the release of "Lost" tonight will be given to the Karam Foundation, a group doing incredible things for the children of Syria, including emergency relief aid and the sponsorship of child refugees. Tonight, thousands of miles away in Chicago, opening our ears and our wallets is one way we can help give a small piece of our hearts to the pain and suffering in the Middle East, and perhaps become a little more connected in the process.