8 Beirut Charity Compilations To Support On Today's Bandcamp Friday

One of the few music platforms that consistently aims to give back to it’s users, Bandcamp started an initiative around the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis that waives their transaction fee for the first Friday of every month, till the end of the year. This has played a huge role in keeping thousands of independent musicians and labels’ heads above water during the Corona pandemic. 

In anticipation of Bandcamp Friday today’s bandcamp friday, we’ve decided to focus our list on musical projects that are directly contributing to the Beirut relief effort. We’ve gathered 7 compilation albums, featuring a range of accomplished musicians — across multiple genres — that are donating their proceeds to helping rebuild the Lebanese Capital.

It goes without saying that there are countless organizations and Beirut-based charities that are very much worth your time and money, so while you're listening through these albums and filling up your Bandcamp cart, please refer to this comprehensive Beirut Solidarity document, which features a detailed breakdown of charities, fundraisers, and NGOs in dire need of your support. 

Please also show support to Tunefork Studio’s musician support fundraiser, which has been helping Beirut’s musicians recover from the damage of the explosion.

Nisf Madeena [Ma3azef] - Tunis 

The most recently released high-profile compilation to come out in support of Beirut, esteemed arabic publication Ma3azef’s Nisf Madeena features a stellar host of international and MENA-based musicians who need no introduction. Keep an ear out for selected tracks from Zuli, Deena Abdelwahed, Nicolás Jaar, FRKTL, Slikback, Fatima Al Qadiri, Thoom, Ismael, and many others.

Genres: Ambient, experimental/post-club, post-mahraganat, techno, left-field, garage (and everything in between)

Grief Into Rage [Grief Into Rage] - Amman 

An immense 36-track compilation, curated by Jordanian DJ Toumba. Channeling somber reflection into bombastic energy, Grief Into Rage doesn't let up, even a moment, in a stunning act of musical protest in support of Beirut featuring Lara Sarkissian and 8ullentina of Club Chai, Oldyungmayn and Van Boom, DJ Plead, Pugilist, Air Max ’97, Phatrax, DJ Tess, TVSI, Elisa Massoni, Arabs with Synthesizers and many, many more.

Genres: IDM, breakbeats, post-club, techno, left-field baile, garage (and everything in between)

Ruptured Sessions Volume 6 - For Beirut [Ruptured Records] - Lebanon - Indie/Jazz/Hip-Hop

Compiled from the live sessions of Ziad Nawfal and Fadi Tabbal’s long-running radio program “Ruptures'' on Radio Lebanon, Ruptured Sessions: For Beirut spans ten years of music, recorded between December 2009 and August 2019, and is the sixth and final entry in the Ruptured Sessions compilation series.  Featuring 16 songs from 11 renowned Lebanese artists including El Rass & Munma, Kinematik, Postcards, Youmna Saba, The Wanton Bishops, Who Killed Bruce Lee, Safar, Alko B, Charlie Rayne, The Incompetents and Cosmic Analog Ensemble. The compilation is composed of entirely new music, unreleased material spanning all facets of Beirut’s alternative scene.

Genres:  alternative rock, rap, electronic, experimental

The Sacred Rage [Morphine Records] - Berlin 

Berlin-based Morphine Records has brought together a veritable who's-who of contemporary artists on the cutting edge of experimental music for The Sacred Rage, a 12-track compilation released in support of Lebanon.Featuring appearances by Monolake, Rashad Becker, Natalie Beridze, The Bug, Neel and many more

Genres: experimental, avant-jazz, techno

Habibi Funk 014: Solidarity With Beirut [Habibi Funk Records] - Berlin

Habibi Funk has gathered together some of Lebanon’s revered musical legends in an attempt  to give back to the struggling city. This cadre of musical legends, including inner-circle members and frequent collaborators of Fairuz and Ziad Rahbani, are all accomplished and noteworthy in their own right, both in groups or as solo artists.

Genres: indie, folk, funk, disco

XquisiteForce.collection/01 [SFX] - Berlin

A direct outcome of ongoing collaborative audiovisual project project XquisiteForce.AV, experimental A/V platform SFX has curated an exceptional compilation featuring world-renowned artists from across the fringes of avant-garde electronic music. Not one to miss, XquisiteForce.AV features 18 tracks by Aho Ssan, Bonebrokk, Ciarra Black, Désir d’enfant, ELLLL, Flore, Forces, Glass, Gramrcy, Holy Similaun, Hulubalang, John Object, Katie Gately, Klahrk & Ship Sket, KMRU, Luke Lund, Simon Grab & Zoë Mc Pherson feat. Dali de Saint Paul and ZULI.

Genres: IDM, post-club, breakbeats, techno, experimental

Beirut Bounce [Diggers Delight]

Based in Brooklyn and Beirut, the still relatively young label has hit the ground running since its debut release in April. This Friday all proceeds of their fourth and biggest, 'Beirut Bounce' will be given to charity. Throughout the 10-track album, we get a taste of the depth and breadth of the electronic music coming out of the Lebanese capital, with Jack the Fish. thelittlehouseofg, BiG AL, DUK, Ribal Rayess, Jad Taleb, Audioblend, Cheh, Pomme Rouge and Silverfonix

Retrieving Beirut [Syrphe Records] - Africa/Asia

Experimental-electronic platform, Syrphe, has gathered together 97 artists from around the globe for a monolithic four-part charity compilation. Usually focusing primarily on artists from Africa and Asia, Syrphe has often been a gateway to the most cutting edge sounds from the two regions.

Genres: 

Volume 1: beat oriented, electronical, prog-rock, techno, breaks, etc.

Volume 2: experimental, ambient, electroacoustic, etc.

Volume 3: drone ambient

Volume 4: noise, drone, power electronics, industrial