All members of this team are deaf. They want to compete for Eurovision

The band UnMute was formed to protest the exclusion of deaf people from pop culture. After the premiere of the music video for the song “Głośniej than decybele”, which took place as part of the social campaign of the Polish Association of the Deaf, the group wants the whole world to hear them. The musicians did not throw words to the wind, blinking “Can’t you hear us? It needs to be changed!”. They decided to try to fight for a performance at Eurovision.

Music for everyone – no limits

Deaf people have not only not been on the Eurovision scene yet, but have never participated in the Eurovision preselection. The team is understandably excited. The musicians say: “This is a high bar for us, but we can show the deaf that we are. Then they can follow our example and continue. People from different cultures take part in Eurovision, we also have our own culture. We take part in it. to show that deaf people can too! “. When asked what it would mean for them to be at Eurovision, they answer:

We would have had the opportunity to break down barriers. Deaf people like to listen to music and dance. For deaf people, it is important to blink … facial expressions whether the song is sad or cheerful. We perceive it strongly. Also the text … is it sad or energetic. It can all be shown in the face. Text translated into Polish sign language. It shows all the emotions in facial expressions.

– The formation of the UnMute team turned out to be a very important event in the deaf community. We showed for the first time that a piece of music can be inaccessible to hearing people. People who do not know sign language, i.e. a significant part of our society, will not understand this work without any text or subtitles. I think that the appearance of the band UnMute at Eurovision will leave a permanent mark on the consciousness of hearing people in Poland and Europe, it will show that deaf people can also be artists and creators, and that music should also be available to everyone. In addition, we will be able to count on the support of the deaf community from all over Europe – comments the president of the Polish Association of the Deaf, Krzysztof Kotyniewicz.

This Deaf Manifesto is important to the entire music industry. Michał Szpak, who represented Poland during Eurovision in 2016, expressed his enthusiasm and admiration. “FANTASTIC! Eurovision has been for years not only a competition of great voices, but most of all creativity. The whole world should appreciate this vision of music. Moving and full of energy at the same time” – he responds. – For several years we have been representing a very ancient way of implementing performances. This band and the contemporary creative show? I believe that it can conquer the whole of Europe “- adds Szpak.

Sarsa, a Polish singer, songwriter and composer, who was selected to participate in Eurovision by Swedish websites in 2016, also commented on the submission of UnMute to the Polish preselection of Eurovision. – Specializing in tuning fork music therapy, I understood that sound is primarily a stream of vibrations that penetrates our interior not only through the sense of hearing. This energy, depending on the creator’s intention, carries various messages and evokes various emotions. Eurovision is undoubtedly an opportunity to build people’s awareness that we are all equal, that diversity is beautiful, that this invisible thread, which is sound, connects us regardless of any differences, experiences, gradations of values ​​or senses we perceive the world with, says Sarsa.