Mick Flannery Shares Single in Support of Women’s Aid
Mick Flannery Shares Single in Support of Women’s Aid
May 15, 2020
In an effort to raise awareness of domestic abuse during the Covid-19 lockdown,Cork singer-songwriter Mick Flannery and New York based director Samantha Scaffidi have united across waters to collaborate on a new song and video, ‘Run a Mile’.
‘Run a Mile’ hears gravel-voiced Flannery sing from the perspective of a woman in an abusive relationship:
“can
we not is hardly no,
no
is not the way to go,
it
only buys a week of silence,
and
it’s silence I can bear the least.
I’m
your happy daughter,
I’m
your smiling girl,
I
meant all the world to you when you saw me first…”
Speaking about writing the song, Mick says: “This
song was written as an attempt to empathise with a woman who has lived with
disappointing men all her life, from her own father to the father of her child,
to subsequent relationships.
I know that most men know what it feels
like to be physically overpowered by a man. Depending on the severity it can
cause great anger and/or trauma. I try to use this theme, ‘loss of physical
autonomy’ in the song, and hope to show that, for a woman like this, the
effects can be much worse.
I’m honoured that Samantha wanted to use
it for this project.”
Writer/director Samantha Scaffidi, who operates out of
renowned production company SMUGGLER, in New York, gives some background
to the making of the video:
“Here in the US, I have been working
closely with Healing TREE to bring awareness to the struggle for survivors of
domestic abuse to leave their abuser. Recently, with the restriction of
resources and the inability to leave the house during this pandemic, I was
brainstorming ways to help in the fight against the horrific reality for these
survivors during this time. After working with Mick on his song ‘Run a Mile’
over the past 6 months, I spoke to Marissa Ghavami at Healing TREE, and we both
agreed that we should re-contextualize our film ‘Bound’ in efforts to spread
awareness.
Hauntingly enough, the image we shot two
years ago feels more relevant to the current affairs then it did at that time.
I’m thankful it has found a home with Mick and I’s joint effort to bring about
awareness and raise funds in Ireland. I believe the song and the film found
each other in a way that I could have not predicted. All united for an
important cause.”
All proceeds from ’Run a Mile’ will go to Women’s Aid – a national frontline organisation
supporting victims of domestic violence. Women’s Aid is calling for the safety
of women and children affected by abuse to be a priority during the current
Coronavirus pandemic.
Women’s Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline 1800 341
900 www.womensaid.ie
Mick will debut some new songs, and also
take requests, for his next Live Stream ticketed show at 9pm (GMT), Saturday
30th May. A limited number of tickets priced at €15 (includes a free download
of ‘Somebody Else’) are available now via Bandcamp, with a portion of the
tickets also going towards Women’s Aid.