We are Karen is a mix of traditional and pop from the Karen people. The Karen people are located in eastern Myanmar and western Thailand (most being in Thailand due to forced displacement in Myanmar), and they have fought for a long time to keep their ethnic and cultural identity alive under Burmese rule (which has committed acts of genocide against the Karen). One of the most important celebrations for the Karen is the new year. This song celebrates the Karen new year while also reinforcing the Karen nation’s cultural and ethnic heritage. In the song, you can hear a chordophone that sounds similar to a Vietnamese dan kim or dan tranh played alongside a flute. During the parts of the song that have the chordophone and the flute, the song holds to more of a traditional, southeast Asian sound. The vocalists also contribute to the southeast Asian sound as they stick to the same scale used by the chordophone and flute. At the same time, electronic drums and other electronic instruments add an overall “poppy” feel to the rest of the song. I chose this song because I used to work for World Relief, resettling refugees into the Fox Valley. During my time at World Relief, there was a noticeable surge of refugees from Myanmar, many of whom are Karen or from the other vulnerable ethnic groups within Myanmar. I think this song can help both highlight the Karen people and their struggle for continued existence in Myanmar.