‘War Crimes’ is a gritty, unfiltered remonstrance, powered by an adamant guitar riff and feisty drums, which are rooted in a very real outrage with the ongoing treatment of Palestinians in Gaza.
The artwork for ‘War Crimes’ is a stunning, heartfelt piece by Ahmed Al Da’alsa, a Palestinian artist from Gaza whose art is an expression and documentation of his struggle and suffering. Slater emphasised on her Instagram the importance of championing Palestinian art in a time when it is so repressed; using it as the single cover is a meaningful way of platforming and sharing Ahmed’s experience with a wider audience.
Slater is candid about her immense disappointment with the UK Labour government. In her own words, the track is “an ode to all those who feel betrayed and disillusioned by the UK Labour government, whose ideals have become increasingly right-wing”. It is also deeply resentful about Kier Starmer’s allowance of genocide and continuance to “dismiss the problem and enable the oppressors”. Slater is expressing a feeling of hopelessness shared by many in the UK right now who feel let down and ignored by their leaders as they allow oppression to continue.
These emotions are channelled through powerful lyrics which call out the government’s lack of action, claiming, “They sit on their benches / Watch the world go by / See the weekly protests / Let the people die”, speaking to them directly about their political position with, “you don’t suit the colour red”.
Perhaps the most impactful part of the song is Slater’s punchy chorus, where she repeats: “Your money's dirty and so is mine / Great British taxes, funding war crimes / Your money's gonna pay for a life”, deliberately juxtaposing “Great” with “War Crimes” and pointing out how each and every person is implicitly involved.
Slater is raising money for Ahmed and his family by selling merchandise featuring his artwork, and she continues to support the Palestinian cause by donating a portion of her ticket sales to War Child UK.
‘War Crimes’ is a provocative call for action, showcasing an artist who is unafraid to speak out and do what is within her power to make a difference.
Emily Sanderson
Image: ‘War Crimes’ Official Single Cover
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