A screenshot of Shouts – Music from the rooftops’ homepage logo. Used with permission. Music is one of the few mediums that can often transcend taboo, language differences and societal stratification. Global Voices interviewed Halldor Kristínarson, founder of the activism and music journalism project Shouts – Music from the Rooftops! about his work, the role of music in making meaningful change, and starting conversations. At Shouts, Halldor routinely covers issues such as Indigenous music preservation, sexism in the music industry, and civil disobedience through song. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Find the full interview below. Photo of Halldor Kristínarson. Used with permission. Halldor Kristínarson (HK): Shouts – Music from the Rooftops! is an activism and music journalism project. I find artists from around the world, frequently underrepresented ones, and use the Shouts platform to shed light on their art and activism. What these artists have in common is that they consciously use their voice and their talent to create a positive change. They raise awareness about different issues with their music, and my part in that world of activism is providing a platform and helping their message travel further. Often, the issues that the artists sing about are very close to them. There are a lot of Indigenous artists, women artists, artists who have faced racial discrimination — the list goes on. There are only two types of creatures in this world who don‘t create songs on their own to let the world know of the injustice they face, namely animals and mother nature. As animals and nature don't speak in human language, luckily, some of these artists take it upon themselves to defend them from the injustice they face in words people can understand HK: Since I can remember I have had an interest in helping those without a voice, most frequently animals. I also became aware of some of the struggles people could have when, at a young age, I started assisting people with disabilities. But it wasn't after I became fully submerged in a nature preservation project that I truly started to realise the spectrum and depth of discrimination. Afterwards, as I worked with asylum seekers, refugees and animal rescue, I started understanding another level of discrimination against women, which also helped me rethink how I see the world and what I wanted to do in it. On the other hand, was my own love and need for singing and music. Originally, I am an audio engineer and since a young age I write songs to cope (although ironically, I mostly only share that music with dogs). So, when I had to decide my subject for my Masters in journalism and mass communication thesis, I thought of mixing my passions, and what came out of that was Shouts. Photo of Halldor Kristínarson. Used with permission. GV: HK: I think that when you have found a passion for activism, it’s extremely hard to restrain yourself from acting. If there is someone suffering in front of me, I can’t pretend everything is ok, and I need others to know it so they can choose to help. And some very brave musicians and other artists are willing to do whatever it takes to try to help create change, no matter the consequences. Also, when I have interviewed artists who live in places that are inhospitable to creative people or to people who speak openly against the powers in charge, what I‘ve found is that they don‘t see any other way. Their artform is a part of their being — it seems unnatural for them to use their voice in another way. Creative people are, more often than not, in my experince, deeply connected to the place inside all of us where empathy lives. Their love for their families, friends, fellow people, animals and nature is so strong that they are never deterred from voicing their opinions, even if it means putting their lives in danger. As Indian rapper Madara told me when I asked him about the backlash and death threats he received for his art: “Everybody dies, but not everybody lives”. Music is a powerful yet peaceful way to get a message to the listener. It’s a strong but non-invasive way of communicating with the world. Musicians create something beautiful and then leave it to the listener to take something from that, when and how they are able to. Without a direct confrontation, no one has to get defensive. My partner in life, Lilián, once told me that it makes sense to protest through song. She said, “Not everyone is willing to listen to a speech at a party because parties are supposed to be fun, but everyone‘s up for hearing a song. It’s a conversation in disguise, a confrontation within ourselves in silence.