Our new GREEN music video / Nuestro nuevo video ecologico : Lo Que Vamos a Dejar / What we Leave Behind. in support of #ActOnClimate and #CleanPowerPlan

Lo Que Vamos a Dejar / What We Leave Behind
In support of #ActOnClimate and the Obama administration's #CleanPowerPlan.
(Full credits on youtube's info blurb).



Here's a FREE DOWNLOAD of the song:

Our DREAM Act song (full) + Obama on Immigration (FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT)

Dream to Belong  -The complete song in support of the DREAM Act, dedicated to all the Dreamers and in memory of Dreamer Joaquin Luna. Full credits here

Let's keep putting pressure on the ground, organizing, demonstrating, talking to people online and in person and reminding everyone that this country, founded on the ideal of equality and opportunity, can only benefit from each Dreamer's desire to educate themselves and contribute openly to this nation. Any society can only benefit from its struggle to overcome prejudice, selfishness and xenophobia, and every person can only grow from attempting to become more inclusive and compassionate.
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Univision's blog post on "Dream to Belong" can be found HERE and includes lyrics.
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Scroll down to skip this intro and go directly to the TRANSCRIPT of Obama's interview...
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On Feb 6 2012 Interview I gave an interview to Tim Paynter of Denver's 1150am radio. The first part of that interview was about our new song and the Dreamers and you can find it in my last post. In the second part I addressed questions about Obama and immigration reform and for those who don't speak Spanish, here is the gist of what I said:
While volunteering in support of the DREAM Act, I've come across some supporters of immigration reform who are understandably frustrated that the law hasn't been passed yet but who are unjustly blaming President Obama. Let's not forget the facts. While Obama, Reid, Durbin and most of the Democrats continue to push for the DREAM Act, (98% of Dems voted to pass it), Republicans as a whole have blocked it in congress, and their candidates oppose it as well, with Romney explicitly declaring he'd veto it.  Through the "Morton Memo" the administration has tried to shift ICE's focus to deporting high-risk individuals and actual criminals instead of DREAMers, (resulting in a drop in deportations according to this story by the LA Times) sparing many who were in line for deportation and whose cases have been dropped, including several who I've volunteered for and with. I've seen this progress first hand and think it is important that DREAMers know they can appeal to ICE's  Prosecutorial Discretion as laid out by the administration and John Morton. However any president's constitutional limitations require support in congress to pass a federal law that would offer the DREAMERs a lasting path to citizenship. We need our allies in government to make the DREAM Act a reality and we need to keep acting marching and demonstrating peacefully, creating awareness and putting pressure on senators to vote for the DREAM Act. We have to pay attention to who is promoting anti-immigrant laws like HB 56 in Alabama and  SB 1070 in Arizona (Which Obama opposed). There are too many Republican politicians constantly taking anti-immigrant positions in every state, and we can stand with those who oppose them. By making sure we are doing all we can to strengthen the campaigns of senators who represent our ideals and trying to help them get elected we will also increase the number of votes in favor of immigration reform and will help those trying to  get it passed when it comes to the floor of the congress again. Here's the audio in Spanish:

so that was Feb 6.

On Feb 21, President Obama gave an interview to Piolin of Univision radio in which he tackled questions about his immigration reform promises (in similar terms to those I  used in my Feb 6 interview).  : http://univisionnews.tumblr.com/post/18103030750/obama-i-didnt-break-my-promise-on-immigration-reform

"Dream to Belong" New song preview, radio interview re: DREAM Act, live premiere with the DREAMers

I wrote a song called "Dream to Belong" in support of the DREAM Act. The pictures below are from the first performance of the song at the Dream Alliance State Wide Summit in Austin, TX on Saturday, January 28th, 2012.

If enacted, The DREAM Act would save many undocumented young students from being deported and allow them a chance to give back to the country they grew up in, the country they love. I am in awe of the DREAMers I've had the honor of meeting and I am constantly inspired by their efforts to better themselves and society as a whole.

 A little bit of "Dream to Belong" was also played in the context of a radio interview I gave three days ago to Tim Paynter on 1150 radio in Denver, CO. The interview is too long to post complete but in the player above you can hear a snippet of the song and a message of support to the DREAMers. I'm pasting another part of the interview below where they play a bit of my earlier song Si Se Puede Cambiar and I discuss President Barack Obama and what he's done for the Dream Act as well as what Republicans are doing against it.

I'll be doing all I can to try to stop the deportation of Dreamers and help the DREAM Act come to pass in 2012. Join us, together we'll make the DREAM come true!

For Immigration Reform: Marching into the Light (Music Video) + tv interview

I wrote this song in protest of SB1070. (UPDATE: Congratulations Arizona on voting Russell Pearce OUT of office! ) Share this video in support of immigration reform and the DREAM Act and please join us in the struggle to end discrimination and prejudice. (Free song download on music player on the left column <<<< )Let's cherish the diversity which has always been a part of these United States and which has propelled this nation into becoming, at its best, a beacon of hope, uniting our common dreams of equality and freedom for all. A. U.

SONG CREDITS: "Marching into the Light" Music and Lyrics by Andres Useche / Lead vocals and guitar: Andres Useche /
/Recorded and produced by: George Shaw. / Back-up Vocals: Oya Thomas, Hilary Fraser- Thomson, Valerie Stern, Grace J. Lee, Dawen Wang, Paul Kwo/ Electric Guitar: Eugene Huang /Piano, sequences: George Shaw

VIDEO CREDITS: Written and Directed by: Andres Useche / Edited by: Brian Torres and Andres Useche / Cinematography by: Martin Linss, Brian Torres, Andres Useche. Still photography by: Vinh Tran, Andres Useche, Bill Barber cc. Some shots by Eric Byler and Annabel Park also appear on the 9500 Liberty documentary. Special Thanks to : Carolina Camargo, Gabriela Ortiz.

Andres Useche interview on Immigration reform:

music: Nine Inch Nails + Andres Useche (w kdna) = El Principio del Final

You can now hear both Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) and yours truly (Andres Useche with KDNA) on the song "El Principio del Final"
This second mix of the song can also be downloaded for free here or at this Nine Inch Nails website: http://remix.nin.com/play/mix?id=18075

check out new songs

You can now find my new song "Soul of an Android" at my official website: www.andresuseche.com

Also new is the new rock version of Waking Shadows
that I have yet to record vocals for.

Download my new pro-OBAMA song for free and help spread the word: OBAMA/BIDEN 08..

I just uploaded the new English version of my pro-Obama song Si, Se Puede Cambiar , you can hear it and download the MP3 here:
http://www.virb.com/useche
It's the first song.
Special thanks to Ben Joseph for flying in from Chicago to record this, getting us a studio and being my ideal collaborator. Thanks to Tom Vondoom for playing bass.
hope you guys and gals like it and spread it around... we are almost there! Election's coming up around the corner!
Will try to edit a music video and have it up soon! GO OBAMA!

Our "Si, se Puede Cambiar" video now on Link TV / surpasses 300,000 viewers on youtube

Our pro-Obama music video "Si, Se Puede Cambiar" has reached 301,794 hits, in one of the many versions up on youtube and mantains a rating of 4/5 stars. Today I was also contacted by the good folks at Link TV, who wanted to show it at their "Dear American Voter" section. You can also join the conversation here where they posted it this morning.



Cheers.

VIDEO: In the Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. John Legend sings U2

I'm currently working on a short Martin Luther King biography which I hope to share with you soon. This man's non-violent struggle for justice and equality impacted the lives of millions of people and paved the way for possibilities that now seem within grasp. His stance against racism and the Vietnam war, his heartfelt, eloquent words will always be relevant.
The talented John Legend, a Barack Obama supporter who collaborated on the Yes We Can video, has recorded a beautiful new rendition of "In the Name of Love", U2's moving tribute to Dr. King from their 1984 album, The Unforgettable Fire.

John Legend performs PRIDE (In The Name of Love)
Uploaded by ElectricArtists

In the Name of Love
Lyrics by U2

One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come, he to justify
One man to overthrow

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resist
One man washed on an empty beach.
One man betrayed with a kiss

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love

(nobody like you...)

Early evening, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love...

"Si Se Puede Cambiar" video and News

Hello everyone, thanks for all your support. Thanks also to those who have sent press links for our video "Si Se Puede Cambiar" . I'll share some with the rest of you so you can post comments at those sites and help us keep doing our bit to rally the nation behind Barack Obama's message of hope.

From the Austin Chronicle

The San Francisco Chronicle

The Daily Kos

The Honolulu Star Bulletin

The Dallas Morning News
This is about both a song for Hillary and our video and song for Obama. Never mind the title, read on to see who's favored in it.

I heard we were on Telemundo and another Spanish language channel, but that's all I know.

"Si Se Puede Cambiar: is also up at The Official Barack Obama for President page, (you have to scroll down as it was published on Feb 22), or if it's too late when you read this you can always reach the permanent link here at main blog in Spanish

Here's the video itself as hosted at my site where you can also download TWO versions of the song, one with Barack Obama and his supporters chanting in the background and one that's just me. You will also find the lyrics in Spanish and English. By the way, the response from English has been such that we've decided to record a version of the song in English that will eventually have its own video. More on this later, here's the video:


And here's a few other places where you can find it as well and comment and vote if you wish, there's the main youtube version
which has received honors as one of the Most viewed and Top Rated videos this week in the category of News and Politics. Muchas gracias to those who've voted for it! Other uploads of the song have surfaced on youtube including some that have been subtitled into Vietnamese, Korean and more.
There's the copy version at Webcastr .
Thanks. Have a good one.

United for Obama's "Si Se Puede (cambiar)" Press Release

By Eric Byler

For Immediate Release
February 25, 2008

LATINO, ASIAN ARTISTS UNITE FOR OBAMA VIRAL VIDEO
***Spanish Language Obama Video Goes Viral With Mainstream Audience

LOS ANGELES, CA -- A pro-Obama music video intended for
Spanish-speaking voters in Texas has caught fire with a mainstream
on-line audiences across America, racking up over 56,000 hits in less
than three days, primarily from English speakers.

"Si Se Puede Cambiar" (Yes We Can Change)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ky8Hvq-F0U

"For too long we have been sleeping, but we have been afraid to
dream." So begins the Spanish language song "Si Se Puede Cambiar"
(Yes We Can Change) by Andres Useche (30), an immigrant from Colombia
living in Los Angeles. The song's emotional arc expresses Useche's
despair over the failures of the Bush administration, and the feeling
of empowerment and civic responsibility inspired by Senator Barack
Obama's candidacy.

"The lyrics were thoughts that have been growing within me, and I'm
sure, many others," explained Useche, who is fluent in both English
and Spanish. "Volunteering for this campaign focused my thoughts into
words that came out in a matter of hours."

The video was produced by "United For Obama," a team of Asian American
and Latino volunteers who have organized road-trips, canvassing, and
in-language phone calls (over 20,000 to Virginia from cities around
the nation) on behalf of Sen. Obama. Shot in five different states,
the video documents a wave of boots-on-the-ground volunteerism spurred
by its producers, Eric Byler (36) and Annabel Park (39), both Asian
American filmmaker/activists who work closely with Latinos on the
immigration issue. A swish-pan dissolve links Useche's Latino
outreach in East Los Angeles with Park's Korean American outreach in
Northern Virginia. The video was also shot in Maryland, New York,
and Nevada and features brief cameos by Asian American celebrities
Kelly Hu (X-Men 2), Kal Penn (Harold and Kumar), and Ken Leung (The
Sopranos).

"We don't want our communities to be the last to embrace this
movement," said Byler, a mixed race Chinese American best known for
the indie hit Charlotte Sometimes. "For various cultural reasons, we
probably will be the last statistically. But every person we bring
into the process is precious to us and precious to America, so this is
a precious time."

The video was co-directed and edited by Chinese American filmmaker
Warren Fu (32), who, like Useche, connected with Byler and Park
through YouTube. Fu, who directs music videos for such bands as The
Strokes, sent a YouTube message to YouTube.com/UnitedForObama after
seeing a video featuring actress Hu. Park responded suggesting he
edit the video being shot by Byler and Useche.

Fu points to unity across ethnic lines as an essential goal in his
artistic and political life. "We're Asian Americans collaborating
with Latino Americans with the goal of electing an African American
President," he said. "That in itself speaks volumes about the power
of this movement."

Webcastr CEO Tim Devine promised to promote the video sight unseen
based on a chance encounter with Useche. "I recognized his passion
for what he was doing, which I knew would show through to our Webcastr
viewers in the video he made," he said. Thanks to English subtitles,
the video received more than 19,000 hits on webcastr.com over the
weekend, and more than 36,000 on YouTube (despite the fact the video
sharing website was inoperative most of Sunday). The largest number
of hits were from English language websites like DailyKos.com.

"Although our target was Latino voters, it's exciting to see so many
English speakers embracing the message and sharing the video with
friends," Park said.

For Barack Obama: "Si Se Puede Cambiar" Music Video

Here's our video Si Se Puede



I wrote this song while campaigning with the grassroots group United for Obama.
Like many I've felt disfranchised for many years because I saw too many politicians playing games and not backing their promises with actions. In Barack Obama I found a leader that didn't bow down to corporate powers and who fought for what was right no matter what his audience was. He spoke of cutting gas emissions to automakers and spoke to the African-American community of the importance of ending discrimination but not only against them, but also by some of them, the discrimination against immigrants, the Jewish people or gays and lesbians. This struck a chord with me. We must fight discrimination of all kinds, not because it is personally convenient, but because it is the right thing to do. Because all of us as a society will be better off if we truly embrace equality and justice for all. Here is a man who not only offered a compassionate and effective way to offer healthcare to all but who also stood firm from the beginning against this despicable war when the position was unpopular.

I've heard people criticize him because he's a great speaker. They are really desperate if their attempt is put down his ability to energize people of all ages, genders and races to become active in the democratic process. What they are trying to ignore is the fact that we are not only responding to his eloquence, but also to the truth of his message. It is a message of a more balanced engagement with world, of an economy that is not rigged to benefit the few, a message of tolerance and progress.

It is this message that has awaken me, and so many of our young, from our long political slumber. It is this renewed enthusiasm that fuels this vast movement, and it is the plurality, the diversity of this movement which inspired me to write this song.

The lyrics were thoughts that have been growing within me, and I'm sure, many others, and as Barack galvanized our intentions, this campaign focused my thoughts into this words that came out in a matter of hours.

We recorded quickly and it is thanks to Eric Byler, Warren Fu, Loni Pham and Annabel Park that you are able to see the finished product so immediately after the fact.

It was a labor of deep-rooted conviction, born of a desire not to acerbate antagonism, but to help, in however small measure, to unite those of us who have been waiting for so long for a moment in which to step up and take charge in the betterment of this world. That's right, we can improve this world. It is not an impossibility. We can do it. Yes we can.

New version of my song Si Se Puede

I just finished recording and mixing Si Se Puede half an hour ago. Hear it at: www.virb.com/useche

Si Se Puede Photos

Just uploaded a bunch of photos from the impromptu live performances of my new song Si Se Puede and the recording of it soon after to http://www.flickr.com/photos/andres_useche/

My pro-Obama Si se Puede song now online!

Friends and family, last night I recorded a demo for the Si Se Puede Cambiar song I wrote in support of the Obama campaign. Please give it a listen at www.virb.com/useche
I'll be updating it as we get to record and mix new elements, and put the video together... but the basis is there.
Please help us get this anti-war, anti-discrimination message out! Share it with as many people as possible. It's a free download found at www.virb.com/useche
I'm also creating a page on the dreaded myspace to try to spread it as much as possible. Look for Andres Useche in music. Shortly we´ll make the video available on www.youtube.com/unitedforobama and other places.


Familia latina, anoche grabe un demo para la cancion Si Se Puede que escribi para apoyar la campaña del candidato Barack Obama a la presidencia de Estados Unidos de Norte America. Por favor escuchenla en www.virb.com/useche
La actualizare cuando puede poner el resto de elementos pero ahi esta la base.
Por favor ayudanos a expresar este mensaje de paz y contra la discriminacion. Comparte el link con cuanta gente sea posible. Se puede bajar gratiz de la red en www.virb.com/useche
Dentro de poco subiremos el video a www.youtube.com/united for Obama.
Gracias

Latinos for Obama + song news

Hi! I'm rushing out to the recording studio to record the song I wrote in support of the campaign. In the meantime here's our Obama latino conversation including yours truly.

Moonlight

Hey. It's three a.m. I just finished recording two pieces of music. One of them, called Sombra de una Sombra, was a piece I had written on the piano for the original short film. I believe the master tapes are at my cousin's place in Bogota so I decided to sit down and re-record them and me being me I couldn't help but start messing with it and going on a suggestion by a friend that the song, don't laugh, reminded him of certain Piano Sonata by non-other than Beethoven, I went ahead and modified the initial arpeggio and the bass line a bit to make the slight similarity a bit more pronounced. To add to the sacrilege, after finishing that piece I went ahead and took the first movement from The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 2 by Ludwig Van and rearranged it. Check it out at www.virb.com/useche and you scroll down on the player to find it. If you're a fan of the ol' wig my apologies in advance... I am too, and know very well the piece is sheer perfection as it is, one of my all time favorites along with Bach's Air, and Brahm's cello concerto and... nevermind i'm rambling, I'm kinda hungry. After I grab a bite I'll see if I can keep working for a while ... but she does look so warm and comfy....
gnight.

Life As An Android song

I've recorded the initial guitar tracks onto my new song "Life As An Android" which can now be heard at www.virb.com/useche . This song will play on the new trailer and the upcoming special edition of Idle Mist.