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We are SO excited to announce the release of WE WON’T SLEEP: SONGS FROM THE MUSICAL JEANNETTE, an eight-song concept album comprised of highlights from the pop musical performed by songstress, advocate, actress and JEANNETTE co-writer Ari Afsar and a high-powered cast of dynamic collaborators.

Featured artists include critically acclaimed powerhouse and change agent MILCK, two-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer and songwriter MA/SA [Lupe Fiasco, Dessa], NPR-approved alternative R&B duo Mermaid, and artist and activist Genesis Be. Meanwhile, GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer Julian Le [Jhené Aiko, Anderson .Paak] helmed production and mixing for the project.

About the release, Afsar commented, “I’m not sure how we do it, but we gotta choose love for a better democracy. This album is a manifestation of all my hopes, dreams, and goals for a better America. One full of acceptance, equitable representation and joy. I may not know the entire route to get there, but I do know the first step is voting and it takes every single one of us.” 

Jeannette Rankin fought for equality with everything she had, and this musical breaks enough boundaries to make her proud.  Jeannette was cast with intentional and encompassing diversity that includes white, Black, brown, Asian, Indigenous, gay, straight and Trans performers. It emerged as “one of three musicals selected from 400-plus applications” for the 2019 Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Music Theater Conference. At the 2020 installment of Broadway Across America’s annual conference, Jeannette distinguished itself as “the only original musical not based on a book or movie” and “the only show written by a BIPOC composer and lyricist.” The team has collaborated with organizations, including the ACLU, Female Quotient and The Center for Popular Democracy. Additionally, its 20-minute live virtual performance graced online fundraisers for progressive candidates such as Tammy Duckworth and Cori Bush.

Now, We Won’t Sleep allows listeners everywhere to experience the incredible history of Jeannette Rankin amplified in song by the raw, real, and relevant voice of Ari Afsar.

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