Pune: If music can heal, it can get along a message too. Artists across the world are using music to raise awareness about the damage we have done to Earth through climate change.
Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has collaborated with We Are The World creator Ken Kragen for the global initiative – Hands Around the World. The fundraising and technology initiative will officially be launched on Wednesday, April 22, which marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
Rahman has teamed up with a group of musicians and artists from different genres on this year-long project, which includes a new anthem song which features pop stars like Natasha Bedingfield, Cody Simpson, soul musician MAJOR, opera icon Jonathan Cilia Faro, gospel singer Erica Atkins-Campbell of Mary Mary, and many others.
Not just they, but Alan Parsons and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra along with NASA and astronauts from the International Space Station have also lent their support with their inspiring One Note Symphony Composition. In the making is an album with powerful songs representing music from different genres.
“We got introduced by Ravi Velhal from Intel, who is one of the technical advisors for my Le Musk project. He pitched my name to Neil and Ken, and they discovered my music and wanted to want me to compose a song,” says Rahman about teaming up with Kragen, the recipient of the prestigious United National Peace Medal, who has combined forces with entertainment entrepreneur Neil Morgan.
On collaborating with Cody Simpson, Natasha and others, he says that they had got a very kind letter from Quincy Jones supporting the project, endorsing him. Rahman will officially introduce the project through Facebook Live on Wednesday, April 22.
“And that got circulated just around the Grammys. Natasha, Cody and Mary Mary -- all of them were kind enough to come. Akon has also confirmed, and many other artists will be joining us for the second line of sessions which are going to take place after we emerge from the pandemic,” Rahman informs.
His music team for ‘Hands Around the World’ includes producer Kevin Doucette (an AI music creator), award-winning Polish composer Julia Zuzanna Sokolowska, and renowned K-pop songwriter Daniel Caesar. The song lyrics have been written by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Wicked).
ALSO READ: Earth Day 2020: Let the planet breathe
