1. Can you briefly introduce yourself?

I'm Suzi Sabotage, a darkwave solo artist from Helsinki, Finland. My music has been described as a crossover between darksynth, post-punk, synthpop, and neofolk. Even prior to this compilation, I've felt that activism is intrinsically entwined with my art. Over the years, I've incorporated it into my musical endeavors by taking a stance for human rights in my lyrics, raising awareness about values and causes that are close to my heart, and launching fundraising campaigns (e.g. for Ukraine, Black Lives Matter, and animal rights organizations, respectively).

2. Could you please tell us about the Goths For Palestine? What inspired you to create this compilation? Was there a specific event or moment that sparked the idea?

The concept was born in my mind in the summer months of 2024. Coincidentally, during that time I reconnected with Jonathan Sirit from Belgrado, with whom I've been acquainted since at least 2011. His Free Palestine artwork, created to raise funds for the cause, caught my eye on Instagram. I guess that was the catalyst for the process to kick off in earnest, and a bit later on I brought up the idea to him, to which he replied that he'd be happy to help. He kindly gave me the permission to use the artwork in question as the album cover of the release and even adapted it to the ideal ratio.

3. Why did you feel the intersection of music, especially post-punk, darkwave, and goth, was a powerful way to contribute to this cause? How do you see the goth and post-punk community as uniquely positioned to support causes like this?

I've seen plenty of goths take a stance for Palestine, so it felt natural to create this compilation within the realm of those genres. The goth subculture is innately progressive, as most of us have leftist values in some form or another. Being against war, genocide, and tyranny is fairly common among those who have progressive values, which has manifested as a widespread show of sympathy for peoples (such as Palestinians and Ukrainians) who are under ongoing and sustained persecution by oppressive regimes. To my delight, this sentiment has been actively expressed throughout the global goth scene by way of raising awareness and funds for these peoples.

4. How did you select the artists and songs for this compilation? What was the process like?

I drafted a list of artists that I went ahead to contact one by one on social networks, then sent them each an info package that I wrote concerning the compilation. It took several months to successfully reach out to all of these artists and some others that I decided to spontaneously ask as they appeared on my radar, but I'm glad I had the patience to allow it some time. If I had released it according to my initial schedule, the list of artists would be only around half of what we have now. It also took a fair amount of research to find a suitable charity. Some aspects were previously unknown to me, and kindly brought to my attention by the Canadian pro-Palestine activist Keyaunna (@souvenir.the.florence on Instagram). I want to give special thanks to them and Jonathan Sirit for being able to consult them whenever I needed some insight from those, who are well-versed in supporting this particular cause.

5. What message do you hope this compilation sends to both the music community and the wider world?

I hope this compilation will inspire others to take up similar projects, and send a signal, that goth music and being outspoken about causes like these go hand in hand. I'd also like it to be a reminder, that now is not the time to be quiet about this subject. We're talking about crimes against humanity here, and raising awareness in at least some manner is vital. Especially as artists or other types of influencers, the wider audience we have, the more we should consider speaking up when it's needed - at least personally I see it as a moral duty. It's imperative that we all use our platforms for the greater good as well, not only for self-serving purposes. Visibly supporting activist and philanthropic efforts, even when we don't have the resources or time to initiate them ourselves, is the least we can do and it demonstrates selflessness and awareness. It’s also a great way to establish stronger communities with like-minded people in a world where disconnection has become the norm, to the detriment of all our well-being as social creatures.

6. Why is it important to connect art and activism in movements like this?

Art has always been a crucial channel for taking a stance. It really can serve to galvanize those, who have artistic inclinations but haven't necessarily found their place in any other means of activism. Attending protests, doing boycotts and petitions, voting, and being involved in other means of traditional-type activism is important, but so is the more creative approach, and it's always delightful when protests have artistic performances and vice versa, when artworks address societal issues. The merging of these two elements beautifully meets both major needs of expression that most of us have.

7. What challenges did you face while organizing and promoting this project?

There were some challenges, but none of them monumental. Obviously not all of the artists that I wished to have on board responded, some of them turned down the proposal for personal reasons, and some couldn't take part, even though they wished to do so, due to legal restrictions (licenses on their music) by their labels. That said, overall it's been a very smooth process, with no major setbacks.

8. Were there any surprising or memorable reactions from artists, listeners, or others after the release of Goths for Palestine?

Over time, we were lucky to have the artist collective joined by the most wonderful individuals. We started a group chat to democratically and transparently discuss the particulars of this fundraiser, making decisions together. Even beyond that, we have shown remarkable support for each other's artistry even outside of the context of this compilation. It has led to some collaborative performances and artists showing up to each other's gigs to demonstrate mutual support. That was the positively surprising byproduct of this project, and the kind of solidarity and community spirit that artists could use much more of on a global level. While there already exists mutual support to some extent, oftentimes we as artists tend to feel isolated, especially as the capitalist status quo frequently endeavors to pit us against each other, cultivating toxic competitiveness instead of wholesome camaraderie. I find that we're all in the same boat, and with more widespread unity we could help each other thrive and address much injustice, whether it be humanitarian issues at large or the challenges that we face in the sphere of DIY musicianship.

9. How has the response been so far, both in terms of sales and raising awareness?

Overwhelmingly positive. So far the grand total of the funds we've raised is $5700 (USD), and counting. We've not only received praise for shining light on this cause within the subculture, but also the musical aspect, and no wonder, considering the exceptional magnificence and prestige of my fellow artists on this compilation.

10. What do you hope the funds raised will accomplish for humanitarian aid in Palestine?

I hope they are effectively bringing necessities for those most direly in need. The selection of the charity in question was a painstaking and carefully researched collaborative effort, where all the artists in the collective had a say. In our group discussion, Zoe Zanias suggested ANERA after I expressed concerns about the aid obstruction that larger humanitarian organizations face. It seems that ANERA has been able to successfully keep distributing food and other necessities in Gaza in spite of the siege, which means that we made the right choice.

11. Do you have plans for similar projects in the future, or are there other ways you envision the music community supporting Palestine?

In fact, I'm planning a second volume to this fundraiser compilation. In the meantime, I've launched a line of Goths For Palestine merch, proceeds of which will similarly be donated in full to ANERA, and in addition, it facilitates raising awareness for the compilation and cause. The second compilation doesn't have any concrete schedule yet, but those who would like to get involved are always welcome to get in touch with me.