Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Reality Club decided to withdraw from the 2024 South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) which was held in Austin, USA. The band withdrew after receiving information regarding SXSW sponsors who were suspected of supplying weapons for Israeli aggression against Palestine.
The announcement was made by Reality Club one day before the band’s performance in Austin, Texas, on March 15-16, 2024.
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“Based on information regarding the US Army as the main sponsor of SXSW and the participation of defense contractors who produce and supply weapons used to attack Palestinians, we have decided to withdraw from our SXSW show,” wrote Reality Club via Instagram, Thursday (14/3 ).
The band, which consists of Fathia Izzati, Faiz, Nugi, and Era Patigo, then explained that this decision was not taken lightly. Reality Club admitted that they had to have long discussions with the organizers before deciding to withdraw.
On the other hand, the band also said it had long dreamed of performing at SXSW. They were even invited to appear at SXSW 2020, before the event was finally canceled due to Covid-19.
However, Reality Club ultimately agreed to withdraw from the list of performers for the hit festival. The decision was taken because the band refused to be associated with organizations that support genocide in Palestine.
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“Following our conscience, we cannot play our SXSW shows in Austin on March 14 and 15, 2024,” wrote Reality Club.
“We refuse to be associated with organizations involved in genocide in Palestine,” he continued.
CNNIndonesia.com has asked Reality Club for permission to quote the upload.
Reality Club was originally scheduled to appear at FRIENDS:FOREVER which would have been the biggest Asian music event in SXSW history.
FRIENDS:FOREVER was held by an American company owned by Asian people, Jaded, which is holding a similar event entitled Tiger Den in 2023. The event was held for two days on March 14 and 15 at the Empire Control Room & Garage.
Apart from Reality Club, several other foreign musicians are scheduled to join FRIENDS:FOREVER.
Singer from California with Vietnamese descent, thuy, who went viral in Indonesia with the song girls like me don’t cry and the indie-rock trio from Seoul, SE SO NEON, were the main stars of the festival.
FRIENDS:FOREVER also brings in dance-pop singer and producer Shelhiel from Malaysia, indie singer and songwriter Su Lee from South Korea, R&B and hip-hop producer STUTS from Japan, and many other names.
(frl/end)