For World Mental Health Day 2019, Cincinnati-based Indie Pop project WHY? has released a cover of Silver Jews' "We Are Real."
The release is a tribute to Silver Jews mastermind and Indie Rock savant David Berman, who died by suicide in August. Proceeds from WHY?'s version of "We Are Real" — which features vocal assists from Lillie West (aka Lala Lala) and Gabby Smith, plus The Ophelias' Grace Weir on cello — will be donated to MusiCares and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Purchase the track now for $1(or more) via WHY?'s Bandcamp page.
Yoni Wolf — Cincinnati native and creative force behind WHY? — talked about the impact of Berman and his decision to record the cover in a press release.
"I always looked up to David Berman. His songs and his poetry book had a huge impact on me in my early career. His death was a staggering blow. We were only distant acquaintances but he somehow felt like a long lost half big brother or estranged uncle. I was a wreck for several days after I heard the news, listening to and reading all his work. Then I decided to learn 'We Are Real' as a way to console myself. It was quite an emotional experience but sure enough it helped a lot to just sing his words out loud."
WHY? — which recently played a hometown show on Fountain Square — is getting for a tour of the UK and EU that begins later this month.
