Brighter Sound - Young artists climate emergency commission
Creative music charity Brighter Sound have been supporting music industry professionals of the future with their creative projects, residencies and training for over 20 years. They are particularly keen on supporting those who are historically and currently under-represented within the industry. Brighter Sound has been part of the MAST network since 2017.
Over the last few years young people across the world have come together to make a stand on climate change. They have managed to catch the world’s attention using their moral integrity and their social media savvy to amplify their voices and get their message across. Recognising the significance of this movement and the strength of feeling out there, Brighter Sound collaborated with fellow MAST member, Reform Radio to give young audiences an opportunity to express these thoughts and feelings through music.
Brighter Sound, Photo: Shirlaine Forrest
In September 2019, Brighter Sound and Reform Radio launched the Playing for Time competition to find two passionate artists interested in inspiring change through their music. The initiative was one of six C-Change pilot actions, providing micro-grants for climate change engagement activities, funded through the EU’s URBACT programme and MAST.
The intention of Playing for Time was to give young people a platform to express how they are feeling about climate change, to have their voices heard, and to inspire others through the power of music, while also providing an opportunity for mentoring from music industry experts and the chance to record their work professionally.
“The pandemic has offered time for reflection and brought to the forefront the need for us to establish ourselves as a more vocally and actively green organisation. Reducing our carbon footprint as an organisation is more than just ‘desirable’, it’s a necessity, it’s a societal obligation. We are a music charity that works mostly with young people, to improve their lives through music. What kind of a youth focused charity are we if we don’t do all we can to preserve the planet that they will live in?”
Freddie Aitken, Operations and Finance Manager, Brighter Sound
The initiative attracted over 50 applicants and some strong creative material. Artists Sian Clarke and Tasha Dowd were commissioned and both artists wrote powerful pieces exploring their thoughts and feelings around the climate emergency.
Brighter Sound, Playing for Time Artists, Sian Clarke (left) and Tasha Dowd (right)
Sian, an 18 year-old, spoken word artist and singer-songwriter from Manchester produced a spoken word piece and a song which she hoped would help people, especially the younger generation, understand the effects of climate change.
Tasha, a 17 year-old actor-musician, songwriter and composer wanted to express some of the emotions people feel when thinking of climate change in her audio-visual piece and get across that climate change impacts everybody.
“The government meant to be solving the issue is leaving it to the younger generations. Our voices need to be heard, we need people to realise and understand what will happen. I want this project to amplify not only my voice, but the voices of countless others.”
Tasha Dowd
Find out more from the Playing for Time artists on the Brighter Sound website
