Dance for Belarus: listen to the electronic album supporting victims of political repression

International and Belarusian electronic music artists have joined forces to support the victims of political repression in Belarus.

Kicking off with a song mixing the Belarusian word “Svoboda”, (“Freedom”) with house beats, by German producer Johannes Albert, Dance for Belarus consists of eight tracks by Belarusian electronic musicians such as Fitzzgerald, Schmoltz, Leap, and Aslamin, as well as artists from across Europe, including German producer Johannes Albert, British musician Donald Dust, Dutch duo Daniel Monaco & Futuristant, and Russian artist Rambal Cochet.

Dance for Belarus is the first album released by Minsk-based label Estetika. “The label and this first compilation are a great opportunity to promote our Belarusian artists on the European stage, as well as a chance to express support for Belarusian society through music,” Alex Aslamin, the musician behind Estetika, told The Calvert Journal. “There is a shortage of electronic music labels — but not artists — in Belarus, and Covid-19, as well as the surging political crisis, have made the situation worse.”

All of the artists have provided their music for free, and 85 per cent of the sales of the album will help the victims of political repression in Belarus cover their legal costs.

More than 200,000 Belarusians have taken to the streets since the controversial presidential elections on 9 August, which saw Alexander Lukashenko win a sixth term in office in a vote widely condemned as rigged. More than 30,000 people have since been detained in an unprecedented wave of police brutality.

Listen to the album on Soundcloud, or buy it on bandcamp.