AlaVida: A sonic plea for peace in ‘Palestina Grita’
A powerful union of forces delivering an anthem of hope
In a music landscape often dominated by fleeting trends, ‘Palestina Grita’ arrives as a visceral reminder of rock’s power to unify. Born in March 2025 from the mind of BNJ, a 13-year-old Chilean prodigy, the track was sparked by the harrowing plight of children in Gaza. Utilizing AI technology to shape his vision, BNJ crafted a composition that immediately struck a chord with its raw musical force and moral clarity.
What began as an innocent, genuine expression of solidarity quickly snowballed into a major artistic endeavor. Driven by a humanitarian imperative -to aid the youth of Gaza- the project attracted some of the heaviest hitters in the Chilean rock scene. The result is the formation of AlaVida, a veritable supergroup featuring Zamiro (Spectro) on bass, Gamal Eltit (Dorso) on guitars, and Sebastián Lifschitz (Dorso) behind the kit. The vocal duties are shared by the powerhouse Chilean singer Marcela Perales and the legendary Pancho Rojas of Mandrácula fame.
Perhaps the project’s most poignant aspect is its lineup: a coalition of musicians of both Arab and Jewish descent, standing shoulder to shoulder. In an era of division, AlaVida offers art as a symbol of peace that transcends all borders. The hard rock iteration of ‘Palestina Grita’ underscores this cultural fusion by incorporating the Darbouka, a traditional Arab percussion instrument that adds a deeply emotive texture to the track’s heavy rhythm section.
Visuals for the release were handled by M Studio Producciones under the direction of Fernando Galaz, while the sonic architecture was built by Zamiro and Gamal Eltit, with mixing and mastering courtesy of Alejandro Salinas at Digisound.
Not content with just one sonic assault, the band quickly followed up with an acoustic rendition featuring the Qanun, a traditional plucked zither central to Arab music. Both versions are now streaming across all digital platforms and recently made their live debut at the Estadio Palestino Gala in Santiago, captivating an audience of over 600 attendees.
The chemistry in the studio was reportedly electric, sparking talk of future endeavors. “We loved doing this work, and it inspired us to think about the possibility of doing more things together… maybe even a full album,” the band states. For now, however, the focus remains laser sharp on ‘Palestina Grita’, a musical grain of sand contributing to awareness and hope for Gaza.
