It shouldn't matter, if you're good.... there's a perception of relevancy which probably feels a lot like discrimination, but don't let it shut you out of a passion. ... I've stumbled on a bit of English rap, which I enjoyed in large part because it felt unique... sounded awkward to me, at first, though.
How you sound has a dramatic influence in how listeners will accept you. If you don't acknowledge this in your music then you will get similar reactions to what you describe. Part of being an artist is finding a way to bridge that gap, to use your vocal style to its fullest extent.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.