Warren Haynes, the Gov’t Mule guitarist and vocalist well known for his years of work with The Allman Brothers Band, leads a global collaboration on his signature ABB song, “Soulshine”, in a new video as part of the Playing For Change “Song Around The World” series. In addition to Haynes, who adds lead vocals and acoustic guitar from Nashville, TN, the rendition features notable names like vocalist/organist Ivan Neville (New Orleans, LA), vocalist Shemekia Copeland (Venice Beach, CA), and more.
As Playing For Change notes in the description of the “Soulshine” video, “In a time when the world needs it the most, this ‘Song Around The World’ serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder that music transcends borders and unifies us all. This holiday season, let your soul shine and celebrate the power of music to connect hearts all over the world!”
True to the billing, this remote collaboration on the early-’90s, Haynes-penned sing-along features contributions recorded around the globe. Additional featured performers include slide guitarist Roberto Luti (Livorno, Italy), bassist Duda Lima (Sao Paulo, Brazil), talking drummer Mohammed Alidu (Tamale, Ghana), drummer Peter Bunetta (Los Angeles, CA), percussionist Guga Machado (Sao Paulo, Brazil), backing vocalists Sherieta Lewis and Roselyn Williams (Trenchtown, Jamaica), and saxophonist Mathieu Aupitre (Toulouse, France). Kawai Hoe (Hakipu’u, Hawai’I) also adds vocals and ukulele to the mix, while Cape Town, South Africa’s Cape Town Ensemble adds vocal depth to the song’s anthemic chorus. Watch the video below.
Warren Haynes, Ivan Neville, Shemekia Copeland, More – “Soulshine” – Playing For Change “Song Around The World”
Playing For Change (PFC) is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music, born from the shared belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. The primary focus of PFC is to record and film musicians performing in their natural environments and combine their talents and cultural power in innovative videos called “Songs Around The World.” Creating these videos motivated PFC to form the Playing For Change Band—a tangible, traveling representation of its mission, featuring musicians met along their journey; and establish the Playing For Change Foundation—a separate 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting music programs for children around the world. Through these efforts, Playing For Change aims to create hope and inspiration for the future of our planet. For more information, head here.
Fans of the series can revisit previous Playing For Change “Song Around The World” collaborations like “Oye Como Va” featuring Carlos Santana, Tal Wilkenfeld, and more; “Peace Train” featuring Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Keb’ Mo’, and more; “When The Levee Breaks” featuring John Paul Jones, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, and more; “Iko Iko” featuring Dr. John, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, George Porter Jr., and more; and “The Weight” featuring Robbie Robertson, Ringo Starr, Marcus King, and more.