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Georgia's thriving cultural scene faces a crisis due to repressive laws restricting independent expression, particularly the locally-called 'Russian Law' enacted in 2023. Artists are fleeing, exhibitions are closing, and protests have emerged as resistance. Nonetheless, musicians and creatives continue to challenge the status quo, uniting through music and collaborative art forms.
While the US and Israel wage war on Iran, Iranian singer-songwriter Mehdi Yarrahi has released one of his most striking and politically charged works to date. Titled Auschwitz, the song dropped in early 2026 following a crackdown on protesters in Iran, continuing Mehdi’s tradition of using music as a way of speaking out against his own government.
Pearl Jam has joined the fight against open-net salmon farming in Iceland, supporting local activists and residents concerned about environmental damage to marine ecosystems. With significant opposition from the public and previous celebrity endorsements, the movement aims to halt the industry’s expansion to protect biodiversity in the country’s wild fjords.
Balendra Shah, known as Balen, transformed from a socially conscious rapper in Nepal's hip-hop scene to the Mayor of Kathmandu in 2022, representing a significant political shift driven by youth discontent. His music addressed corruption and social inequality, resonating with young voters. Balen is now poised to become Nepal's next prime minister, emphasizing music's impact on political change.
Among the latest additions to the growing list of songs and music emerging from the Iranian protests is the powerful protest song “Man Zendeam Hanooz” ("I Am Still Alive") by Iranian composer Adib Ghorbani, with words by Vienna-based, Iranian poet Pooyan Moghaddassi.
Maria Dunn's 2025 album, Hardscrabble Hope, emphasizes storytelling in protest folk, focusing on the struggles of workers and marginalized communities. It blends empathy with political awareness, featuring songs that address issues like resource extraction, mental health, and identity. The album’s musical depth enhances its themes of resilience and solidarity.
As we all watch horrors unfold around the world, musicians remind us that we can all do something. Every little thing matters. Protest music never died. These are our favourite protest music albums from 2025.
DJ General Strike curated a playlist of over 1,100 protest songs and shared his top 40 tracks influenced by protests against political injustices, highlighting themes such as immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic crises.
The Belarusian government has doubled down on censorship of musicians and creative voices, using broad “extremism” laws to suppress dissidents since the mass protests of 2020. Music has become a target of state repression, with bands, individual songs, videos, and even social media pages officially labeled as “extremist materials.” Under Belarusian law, materials added to … Continue reading…
On his third album, Afro-Portuguese artist Scúru Fitchádu fuses ancestral wisdom with urban revolt, turning memory and militancy into a soundtrack for resistance.
