In these times of global socioeconomic hardships, it is very easy for us to put blinders on and focus our worries on ourselves. Fortunately enough, there are still some who strive for the betterment of others by uniting different spirits through an art form, and as such in these two cases, through song.
The first project came through an inspiration for award winning producer and film director Mark Johnson, as he recorded a busker on his street singing the song “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King. Mark then decided to travel across the world to record different musicians singing the same song to be later edited and spliced together as one record. The project seeks to unite different musicians as well as art and musical institutions around the world to fund new schools for impoverished regions and maintain those that are already established.
Mark’s work will be released in CD and DVD format this coming April 2009 which will also feature a global rendition of Bob Marley’s “One Love” as well as Pierre Minetti’s “Don’t Worry” sung by over 100 different musicians.
Another project first came through for Dan Zaccagnino when he and his college friends decided to create a student-run, non-profit record label. As he and his friends graduated and moved further away from each other, they wanted to have something that would allow them to continue to make music together without having to physically travel and record in one studio. The creation of Indaba Music allowed Dan to collaborate with his friends as well as other members to connect and collaborate with their friends all over the world.
Dan’s work has set many people abuzz and earned him a spot on the popular comedy news reportage “The Colbert Report”. With the help of Creative Commons founder Lawrence Lessig, Indaba Music has also created a contest in conjunction with Lessig’s appearance on The Colbert Report.
Aside from providing a virtual common ground for creative minds, these two fantastic projects also offer an insight into the human psyche where in times of great hardship one can either choose to break apart or stick together. Clearly the better choice that these people have made is to “get together and feel alright…”
The foundation provides musicians around the world facilities to play music and enhance their skills, therefore not only making their lives better but also demonstrating how music brings people together regardless of cultural and socio-economic differences.
(gadling)
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