Foreigners Everywhere – Your Country Doesn't Exist (2020)
The first album of the Foreigners Everywhere project, called "Your Country Doesn't Exist", is not just a compilation of collaborations with other artists. It is a powerful political manifesto that through sound, text and collaboration explores the concept of belonging, land ownership and the system that defines us. As a product of anarchist ideas, an album steeped in dub and punk, this release is deeply rooted in the world of resistance and collective consciousness.
"Your Country Doesn't Exist" is not only a musical project, but also a philosophical discussion about the meaning of borders, national identity and political power. The title of the album provokes questions of belonging and ownership, reminding us that countries are constructs that we create and change, but which are increasingly used to control and divide people. Olafur Olaffsson deals with this issue in his statement: "We are not saying that countries do not exist, they really do exist, but by putting the word 'your' we want to encourage a discussion about belonging and control. Who owns your land? Who owns the lands?"
The album was created in collaboration with a number of different artists and collectives, including Jah Free, Zion Train, Crass, Penny Rimbaud and Eve Libertine, each contributing a specific sonic layer to the album. Each contributor brings their own ideas, adding richness to the textures of dub and punk, while the mastering is by Matt and Billie - Pressure Mastering, who perfectly blend the sharp tones of rebellion with the hypnotic rhythms of dub.
The lyrics, also included on the album release, feature lyrical contributions from artists such as Jahfree Bertolla, Hugh Vivian, Penny Rimbaud and philosopher Giorgio Agamben. It's not just a collection of songs, each verse acts as a micro-political statement, like the quote from Brecht on the poster that comes with the album: "Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon". This call for intellectual resistance finds its echoes throughout the album, while the music serves as a weapon against passivity and injustice.
The physical edition of the album is particularly interesting. Inspired by Crass album reissues, it's completely plastic-free, with an eco-conscious design that symbolizes care for the environment and community. Inside the album hides a treasure - a poster with photographs of books that have inspired the members of the collective, from classics like Emma Goldman and Peter Kropotkin to avant-garde artists like Marcel Duchamp and John Cage. These references reveal the intellectual depth behind each sound and message of the album, creating a bridge between political and cultural movements.
The album "Your Country Doesn't Exist" was released in 50 pieces and was available with the "pay what you can" model. This principle of sharing and accessibility to all is another example of how Foreigners Everywhere spreads the idea of collective responsibility and solidarity, rejecting the capitalist model of profit as the only measure of value. In conclusion,
"Your Country Doesn't Exist" is not just a collection of songs - it is a manifesto, a call to question the world around us. Through collaborations with different artists, the project creates a soundscape that is both hypnotic and challenging, encouraging listeners to think and act. It's an album that celebrates autonomy, solidarity and creative resistance – and it does so in the strongest possible way: loud, brave and fearless.