Wafia shares video for politically driven track ‘Bodies’
The song is a particularly personal one for the singer — who was born in the Netherlands to Iraqi and Syrian parents — as it addresses her family’s struggle to escape the ongoing civil war in Syria, and to attain refugee status in Australia. Contrasting lyrics about the crisis with upbeat pop instrumentals, Wafia deliberately attempts to make the song's message reach audiences beyond those already concerned with the Syrian conflict. Watch the video below!
Speaking on the video, director Alli Coates explains,
The video is a visual representation of the social divide ripping our world apart. The old world regimes of the west are clinging to this idea of a homogenized, heteronormative, nationalist society. Young men are trained to be aggressive and women are trained to be pageant ready pieces of meat. Wafia and I talked at length about the heat she had been feeling as a Muslim woman in Australia amidst a time of free-flying hate rhetoric. To me, Wafia represents the resistance against xenophobia, racism, and prejudice in the best way. She uses this as the fuel for her burning fire, she is the uprising against a life lead by fear.
Wafia adds,
The first time I met Alli I was incredibly drawn towards her energy. Opening up to her about the meaning of Bodies and my experiences was effortless. When it came time to put the video together, Alli’s perspective was incredibly important because I never wanted this song or video to only stand for my story. We wanted it to feel inclusive to everyone that feels like they stand out to the people surrounding them.