He’s had a top-five album and won an ARIA award for ‘single of the year’.
But it seems Ben Lee’s latest album, although not a chart topper, may be one of his most important yet.
The 38-year-old Indie artist has penned a new album, ‘Ben Lee Sings About Islam For The Whole Family’ – a direct response to US president Donald Trump’s treatment of Muslims and a plea for understanding.
Lee, the former frontman of group Noise Addicts, revealed wanting to teach children around the age his seven-year-old daughter was a major incentive.
Raised under the Jewish faith, the singer hasn’t converted to Islam, instead saying he could no longer take religions literally but wanted to appreciate them.
‘That’s the beauty of the pop song – you can say anything, and if you say it in two and a half minutes with a catchy chorus, it becomes digestible,’ he told AFP.
‘I think I’m at the point in my life where you start realizing that any lasting effect that you’re going to have on the human race is going to be through the influence you can make on the next generation.’
Featuring songs titled ‘La Ilaha Il Allah’ and ‘Ramadan’, the album is a far cry from his previous hits ‘Catch My Disease’ and ‘We’re All In This Together’.
Simplifying the teachings of the Qurán, on one track the singer speaks about Noah coming across an ugly dog, while the chorus states ‘there is no God but God’.
While there’s a focus on religious teachings, Lee also touches on his own life experiences.
‘When I was a kid I thought rock n roll musicians were the greatest – they had exciting lives with people cheering them on stage,’ he sings.
‘It seemed like they had no problems, like they had the answers to all the questions, so I became one… and I still have problems.’
The album, released on Friday, will see all profits go to American Civil Liberties Union – a vocal opponent to President Trump’s new laws.
With his ‘Songs About Islam’ album complete, the Australian artist is set to move on to a collaboration with ‘How I Met Your Mother’ star Josh Radnor.
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