Saskatoon musician donates song to Syrian refugees

A Saskatoon musician is using her music to raise awareness and funds to help Syrian refugees.

Elly Thorn officially released her music video You Didn't Even Know Me on Friday, dedicating the song to the city's newcomers with downloads available for $1.

The video features four Syrian refugee families new to the bridge city. Since its release, the video has been viewed nearly 4,000 times on YouTube.

"I want to donate 100 per cent [of the song's] downloads going back to supporting the refugees," said Thorn.

The idea of giving all the proceeds to organizations working with Syrian refugees came to the musician after one of her Saskatoon shows.

"In between sets, a couple ladies came up with tears in their eyes and said, 'Elly, your song, You Didn't Even Know Me, it has to be about the Syrian refugees,'" Thorn recounted, admitting the idea had never crossed her mind.

"The lyrics couldn't be any more fitting for the refugee crisis."

The project has since been supported by Lebanese immigrants living in Saskatoon, Karim and Dora Nasser, who have said that they will donate up to $100,000, matching the money raised through the downloads of the song.

"It's such an amazing way for me to give back and also through something that I have such a passion for with my music," said Thorn. "Nothing gets better than being able to help make a difference through doing something that I was born to do."

Thorn said even if people aren't inclined to download her song, she hopes the video will at least get creative juices flowing for people looking for ways to help out the newcomers.