New Aloe Blacc Music Video Stars Undocumented Immigrant

New Aloe Blacc Music Video Stars Undocumented Immigrant Cast: Number 1 Hit “Wake Me Up” Tackles Immigration on Eve of Historic Debate

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October 24, 2013 – Los Angeles, CA and Washington DC.

In a groundbreaking new music video released widely this weekend, Aloe Blacc’s acoustic version of the No. 1 hit, “Wake Me Up”But this is not a case of art imitating life. All the characters in the video are played by undocumented immigrants, including Hareth Andrade, a leader in the immigrant youth movement who is fighting to stop her own father’s pending deportation http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/portfolio/andrade/ , Agustín Chiprez Alvarez, a Los Angeles day laborer, and Margarita Reyes who was deported with her mother as a child despite being born in the US.

“Having grown up in an immigrant family myself, I know that the stories in the video are not a fiction,” said Blacc, “It’s time that we wake up about immigration and I hope our video can help do that.”

As Congress turns toward the question of immigration, Blacc chose to collaborate with people who have the most at stake. Inspired by real events, the video puts a human face to the contentious national debate.

Directed by Sundance award-winning filmmaker Alex Rivera, the video was produced by a leasding immigrant rights organization, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network in partnership with the Healing Power of Music Initiative.

Aloe Blacc was born in Southern California to Panamanian parents. He released his first hip-hop mixtape in 1996 and was associated with the indie hip-hop scene for many years. In 2006, he signed to Stones Throw Records and released his genre-bending debut solo album, Shine Through, followed by 2010's, Good Things, concocting a vintage yet current sound. Good Things spawned the massive international platinum-selling single "I Need A Dollar," which also became the theme to the HBO series “How To Make It In America.” The single went on to sell over two million copies worldwide, and Good Things over a million units globally. In 2012, Blacc was nominated for two BRIT Awards (Best International Male Solo Artist and Best International Breakthrough Act).

Background on the making of the video and the cast can be found at: http://bit.ly/aloewakemeup

The National Day Laborer Organizing Network is made up of more than 40 organizations across the country working to improve the lives of day laborers.

The Healing Power of Music is an initiative of the Americas Business Council (abc*) Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports high-impact, innovative, social and environmental organizations working to sustainably advance the Americas.

ENDS

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