Bassel & The Supernaturals Perform “Black Water”
Clip: Episode 4 | 2m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
Bassel Almadani and his band, Bassel & The Supernaturals, perform the song “Black Water.”
Dulé Hill meets Bassel Almadani, a first-generation, Syrian-American musician who is using his platform to bring awareness to the civil war ravaging his family’s beloved homeland, and the resulting refugee crisis Bassel and his band, Bassel & The Supernaturals, perform the song “Black Water.”
This program was made possible by a grant from Anne Ray Foundation.
Bassel & The Supernaturals Perform “Black Water”
Clip: Episode 4 | 2m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
Dulé Hill meets Bassel Almadani, a first-generation, Syrian-American musician who is using his platform to bring awareness to the civil war ravaging his family’s beloved homeland, and the resulting refugee crisis Bassel and his band, Bassel & The Supernaturals, perform the song “Black Water.”
How to Watch The Express Way with Dulé Hill
The Express Way with Dulé Hill is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Buy Now
5 Artists Showcasing the Power of Art
From colorful cabarets and moving movies to artistic techniques that transcend the senses, here are five inspiring artists highlighted in The Express Way with Dulé Hill.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[Playing "Black Water"] Almadani: I have a stage.
Hill: How's everybody doing, man?
Dulé.
Hill: How did you come up with the name Supernaturals?
Almadani: Supernatural's really about defying all the odds, doing whatever we got to do to be able to make music and get this message out there and help to rebuild a better future for Syrians.
♪ Almadani: It's become a collective of musicians that are all tied to the cause of the message.
They appreciate the music and the sense of community around it.
♪ They taught her ♪ ♪ Sail away... ♪ Hill: This refugee crisis with Syria, is that something that you tap into?
Almadani: ♪ Sail away ♪ Almadani: ♪ Sail away ♪ ♪ Hill: You really approach it through the collateral damage, the ripple effect of things.
You're not in the middle of it, but you are in the current of it.
That's exactly it.
Almadani: That was one of the most challenging creative experiences that I've ever had, was to figure out how to stay honest and authentic with the music when I'm not there myself.
Every single show I play, at least one person comes up to me and asks, "Is the war still going on in Syria?"
We're cultivating safe spaces to ask that question and say, "Yes."
♪ We connect them to charity organizations because otherwise, nothing changes.
♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Sail away, sail away ♪ ♪ Sail away in my sleep ♪ ♪ Sail away, sail away ♪ ♪ Sail away in my sleep ♪ ♪ The hills are green ♪ ♪ The river's full ♪ ♪
Video has Closed Captions
In Chicago, Dulé Hill explores why art and activism are synonymous. (30s)
Dulé Meets Refugee Children at the Syrian Community Network
Video has Closed Captions
Dulé Hill meets refugee children with Bassel Almadani at the Syrian Community Network. (3m 57s)
Dulé Reads for the Andre Theatre Collective Casting Session
Video has Closed Captions
Dulé Hill joins the Andre Theatre Collective for their first casting session. (8m 14s)
Vershawn Sanders Ward Teaches Afro-Contemporary Dance
Video has Closed Captions
Dulé Hill learns Afro-Contemporary dance with Vershawn Sanders Ward. (2m 24s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipThis program was made possible by a grant from Anne Ray Foundation.