First Aid Kit – “You Are The Problem Here”

Nirrimi Firebrace

First Aid Kit – “You Are The Problem Here”

Nirrimi Firebrace

First Aid Kit have shared a new single called “You Are The Problem Here” in honor of International Women’s Day. The song is louder and harder-hitting than the Swedish folk-rockers’ usual fare, an angry condemnation of men who commit rape and sexual assault. It begins, “I am so sick and tired of this world/ All these women with their dreams shattered/ From some man’s sweaty, desperate touch/ Goddammit, I’ve had enough.” The band shared this statement explaining the track:

Today is the International Women’s Day and the theme of the year is #BeBoldForChange. “You Are the Problem Here” isn’t a typical First Aid Kit-song. It’s angry and direct. It’s a song written out of despair. After reading about yet another rape case where the perpetrator was handed a sentence which did not at all reflect the severity of his crime we felt upset and vengeful. We were, and are, sick of living in a society where the victims of rape are often blamed for the horrible thing that has been done to them. Our message is clear and should not be controversial in the least: if you rape, you are the problem. Alcohol is not the problem. So called “youth culture” is not the problem. You are. And you always have a choice.

Listen below.

“You Are The Problem Here” hits digital retailers this Friday, 3/10. A portion of the proceeds will go to Women For Women International.

more from New Music