Artist Project Earth recently released Rhythms Del Mundo
Artist Project Earth recently released Rhythms Del Mundo, a Cuban re-imagination of popular songs by Coldplay, U2, and Sting, featuring collaborationswith renowned artists. TMusic as the unifying, uplifting and revolutionary force.
In times of deep collective grief, music has always held the power to uplift and revive
our spirits. It acts as a unifying force, transforming rhythms and sounds into harmonies
that align and connect us. In this spirit, Artist Project Earth recently released Rhythms
Del Mundo, a Cuban re-imagination of popular songs by Coldplay, U2, and Sting,
Rhythms Del Mundo, a Cuban re-imagination of popular songs by Coldplay, U2, and Sting, featuring collaborations with renowned artists.
Recently, I had the privilege of witnessing Tinariwen’s performance at the Royal Albert
Hall as part of BBC’s Late Night Proms. They opened their set with ‘Azawad,’ a song
named after the hoped-for Tuareg homeland, calling for the protection of its leaders and
territory. Hearing this powerful message echoed in a gentle hum by six thousand
attendees was a moment of deep joy and connection. The song expresses a feeling of
longing and nostalgia - what the group refers to as assouf. Though there is no direct
translation in English, assouf embodies a blend of homesickness, longing, and
emotional pain a sentiment that resonates deeply in the context of the ongoing
instability in Mali since the Tuareg uprising in 2012.
Tinariwen’s journey began with its founding member, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, who
witnessed his father’s execution during the 1963 uprising in Mali when he was just four
years old. Growing up amid the deserts and refugee camps of Algeria, Ibrahim was
often seen as a wanderer - a ‘ragamuffin child,’ as he was nicknamed. His introduction
to music came from a makeshift desert cinema, where he saw a cowboy playing a guitar
in a Western film. Inspired, he built his first guitar using an oil can, a stick, and a bicycle
brake wire. From there, he taught himself to play, blending old Tuareg melodies with
modern Arabic pop and Malian blues.
Now internationally acclaimed, Tinariwen has released nine albums, each a testament
to their roots and the evolution of their sound. Their third album, Aman Iman (“Water Is
Life”), recorded in Bamako, Mali, delves into themes of exile and division. The music’s
slow, haunting melodies, derived from American blues and infused with folk rock, never
stray far from their African origins. The ability of musical styles and techniques to infuse
and evolve across cultures is a symbol of shared struggle and resistance.
To think that blues, born from the sorrow of African slaves in the Deep South, found its
way into the Saharan desert is a testament to the transcendent power of music. This
genre, now known as desert blues, is represented by artists like Tinariwen, Ali Farka
Touré, Etran Finatawa, and Tamikrest. The Tuareg people, who practice an ancient
tradition of coming together in the desert to discuss issues and play music, demonstrate
how music can serve as a medium for connection and resolution.
Consider some of the world’s most timeless music - blues, jazz, and their countless
offshoots -all born from the sorrow and resilience of oppressed communities. The
melancholic rhythms of despair and the deep desire for freedom that emerged from the
plantations of the Deep South still resonate today, especially in the hearts of those still
fighting for justice and survival. Blues gave birth to jazz, a genre that transformed
sorrow into joy, influencing Caribbean rhythms, African beats, and southern U.S. church
melodies. This evolution reflects the transformation of deep pain into vibrant, joyful
expression, embraced by musicians and dancers alike.
The cross-cultural exchange that birthed Afro-Cuban jazz in the decades leading up to
the 1940s is a shining example of music’s unifying power. This fusion found its way
back to the United States, evolving into what we now know as Latin Jazz. Such musical
blends, which unify styles and cultures, are worth celebrating - especially in our current
context.
Just as music has historically been a rallying cry for justice, freedom, and unity, it now
serves as a powerful force in the fight against the ongoing destruction of the Earth's
ecosystems and the communities that have long inhabited and protected them. The
climate crisis is more than just a scientific or political issue; it is a deeply human
challenge that has given rise to a generation of climate-anxious youth, whose futures
are jeopardised by the very few per cent who hold the majority of the planet’s wealth
and power, so-called leaders prioritising profit over the survival of the subsequent souls
yet to inhabit Earth.
Much like how the blues and jazz emerged from the pain and resilience of oppressed
communities, a new global soundscape is arising to address the climate crisis. In this
spirit, our current song competition, ‘Eco-Anthem’ invites musicians from around the
world to create songs that resonate with the urgency of the climate crisis, using the
power of music to inspire Earth connection, awareness and unity. These eco-anthems,
like the enduring genres of blues, jazz, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, have the power to
unite us in our collective struggle against oppression and suffering. They remind us that
even on the brink of climate collapse, we can still experience joy and hope, and we can
continue to imagine a future worth fighting for.
Calling musicians of the world!
We’re searching for a simple, compelling song that nature lovers around the world will want to sing. Whether you’re a professional musician or record from your bedroom, we want to hear your song for Mother Earth.
