(SEWELL, NJ) -- A venerable New Jersey independent record company and a Chicago musician joined forces to spearhead “POP AID” to benefit World Central Kitchen’s work in war-torn Ukraine. A 3 CD set featuring 63 artists is scheduled for release on August 5, 2022, via Kool Kat Musik. 100% of net proceeds will go directly to World Central Kitchen.

The plan took shape very quickly after Ray Gianchetti, owner/operator of the pop-centric Kool Kat Musik record label/mailorder company in New Jersey after speaking with Chicago attorney Frank Gradishar, who is also the lead singer/bassist in the Chicago power pop trio, Thrift Store Halo. They both agreed that they could not simply watch what was unfolding in Ukraine every day and do nothing. The POP AID project was formed to benefit for the people affected by Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

Ray’s idea was straightforward: curate a “collector’s collection” of exclusive/previously unreleased songs from some of the best indie pop bands from around the globe. The pair agreed that 100% of the proceeds be donated to a reputable charity, directly working to aid Ukraine. 

The project was announced on social media in early March, and the list of bands committing to the project grew exponentially immediately, and the songs (many of which were recorded specifically for the project) started rolling in.  After seeing news reports of a World Central Kitchen (“WCK”) restaurant being struck by a Russian missile attack on April 16, 2022, during which several staff members of the “ghost kitchen” were injured, Ray and Frank knew POP AID had settled on a worthy beneficiary/charitable partner.   

The 3 CD set features 63 artists, including Joey Molland (Badfinger) as well as indie pop mainstays like Chris Church (US), Cloud Eleven (US), Star Collector (Canada), Thrift Store Halo (US), Arvidson & Butterflies (Sweden), John Howard (UK), The Lolas (US), The Sails (UK), The Sun Sawed In 1/2 (US), Daniel Wylie (UK), Squire (UK), Scott McCarl (The Raspberries) (US), John Howard (UK), Jamie Hoover (US), Rogers & Butler (US), Papernut Cambridge (UK), The Overtures (UK) and Flashcubes (US). 

 

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