The 20-track Democracy Forward double album will feature songs from R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, Wilco, Tyler Childers, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and many more on a compilation focused on democracy, resilience and courage. The collection is a partnership between literary magazine The Bitter Southerner and national legal organization Democracy Forward.
“The work of Democracy Forward ensures that people and communities – that all of us – are heard and that our rights are protected,” said Skye Perryman, President & CEO of Democracy Forward in a statement about the collection that will be release on vinyl the week of July 3; pre-sales begin today here.
“At a time when so many communities across the nation are hurting and being targeted, music, art, and expression helps to bring people together in community, which creates the conditions for courage,” read the statement. “We are incredibly grateful to the artists who have dedicated their music to support the American people’s rights and our democracy during this consequential time. Each of us has a role to play in strengthening our democracy, and every voice matters.”
Proceeds from the album will benefit Democracy Forward’s work, which includes free representation for people and communities in defense of their constitutional rights. Since the second inauguration of President Donald Trump, Democracy Forward said in the statement that it has been focused on “some of the most significant issues affecting people, families, and communities to confront anti-democratic extremism head-on. From stopping the federal funding freeze, to blocking the decimation of the Department of Education, to protecting religious liberty, to safeguarding due process, to stopping DOGE and Musk from taking Americans’ sensitive and personal data, and more – Democracy Forward has won court orders for people and is just getting started.”
The album will open with Stipe’s new original spoken word piece “Invocation.” The singer and activist said in a statement, “We believe in the importance of our democracy and also our ability to save it. The world is depending on us. This fight is not over. The day is not done.”
Since Democracy Forward’s formation in 2016, the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit has taken the Trump administration to court more than 100 times and worked with dozens of prominent groups to combat some of the administration’s actions by partnering with organizations including: Abortion Fund of Ohio, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Parks Conservation Association, Alliance For Justice, National Resources Defense Council, New York Civil Liberties Union, American Federation of Teachers, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The album announcement comes as Trump is attempting to muscle through his so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” a proposed tax and spending package that aims to permanently extend the president’s big tax cuts for the nation’s wealthiest individuals, as well as make deep cuts to social programs including Medicaid and food aid and roll back a wide variety of environmental regulations and green energy initiatives in an effort to focus on climate-warming fossil fuels.
It also coincided with Trump’s provocative deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles on Monday (June 9) — without the consent of Gov. Gavin Newsom — in order to quell demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in the city.
Check out the track list for Democracy Forward below.
Michael Stipe – “Invocation” (new)
Sierra Ferrell –“American Dreaming”
Wilco – “Cruel Country”
Tyler Childers – “Long Violent History”
Brandi Carlile – “Speak Your Mind”
Hurray for the Riff Raff – “Colossus of Roads”
Brittany Howard – “Another Day
Tunde Abebimpe – “People”
Kevin Morby and Waxahatchee – “Farewell Transmission”
Fruit Bats – “A Lingering Love”
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – “Something More Than Free” (Live from the ACL Live)
She Returns From War – “Ruthless”
John Prine – “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven” (Live at Fifth Peg Chicago)
S.G. Goodman – “Satellite”
Allison Russell (featuring Brandi Carlile) – “You’re Not Alone”
Langhorne Slim – “Life is Confusing”
Blue Mountain – “Jimmy Carter”
Danielle Ponder – “So Long”
Jim James – “Here in Spirit”
Michael Stipe and Big Red Machine – “No Time For Love Like Now”
