Julia Stone Announces Charity Album Project - SONGS FOR AUSTRALIA
At
the heart of the record is Australian songwriter and
musician, Julia Stone. Recording in London
over the new year period, Stone learned her
mother was being evacuated from Lake Conjola on the south
coast of New South Wales. Stone watched the
unfolding bushfire crisis on the news, along with the rest
of the world, feeling helpless, frustrated and distressed.
Despite the vast distance between her and her home, her deep
connection with it and her horror at its unfolding
destruction dominated the days that followed. Late one
night, she showed her producer and good friend
Thomas Bartlett her favourite Australian
songs, songs that over time had settled themselves in her
heart. Together they decided that she should record
one. The next day they recorded Midnight Oil’s
‘Beds Are Burning’. At
first, their collaboration was simply a creative outlet for
the sadness Stone was feeling for the
situation at hand. But she realised her sadness was even
deeper and more far-reaching than that, connected to the
history of intense sadness in Australia in relation to many
of the misguided political and social choices that have been
made. Stone wanted the song to connect with
its origins - written 33 years ago about indigenous land
rights - and so began exploring the information relating to
the inattention to indigenous wisdom on land management. She
decided to make a clip to accompany the recording that would
incorporate a broader commentary on these
issues.
Stone began to reach out.
First, she asked artists from the Karrabing Community in the
NT Natasha Bigfoot Lewis, Quinton Shields and Deborah Sing
to add some vocals to the song. You can view these
additional lyrics and further information on the project and
nominated charities on the dedicated website www.songsforaustralia.com.
With the help of producers/publishers Monster Children,
video editors The Editors and sound mixers SqueakeClean, a
beautiful, moving piece was created that speaks to the
integration of indigenous knowledge and the urgency to make
changes in this country. You can watch ‘Beds Are
Burning’ Here Inspired
to reach out further, Stone felt that
something truly tangible could be done to help if she could
involve the power of a greater number of artists. She began
contacting musicians she had a personal connection with to
ask if they would be interested in contributing a cover of
an Australian song to an album that would raise money for
the bushfire crisis. The response was international,
immediate and immense. American friends The
National signed on instantly and offered to record
a version of INXS’s ‘Never Tear Us
Apart’.Kurt Vile put his hand up
to cover Nick Cave’s ‘Stranger Than
Kindness’. Joan as Police Woman
covered Gotye’s ‘Hearts A Mess’.
Avant-garde American folk artist, Sam
Amidon offers his take on ‘Let Me Down
Easy’ by Gang of Youths.
From Ireland, friend Damien Rice delivered
SIA’s ‘Chandelier’ and fellow
Irishman, Dermot Kennedycovered Matt
Corby’s ‘Resolution’. Touring buddy
from years back, Canadian singer Martha
Wainwright, gave Nick Cave’s ‘The Ship
Song’. Friends from France, Petit
Biscuit and Pomme also volunteered
songs. And back at home, long-time friend
Paul Kelly offered his cover of Archie
Roach’s ‘Native
Born’, Dan
Sultan gave Nick Cave’s ‘Into My
Arms’ and brother Angus’s Dope
Lemon covered The Go-Betweens’ ‘Streets
Of Your Town’. It
wasn’t just artists that wanted to help, mix engineer
Eric J Dubowsky jumped on board to offer
his services and mastering legend, Greg
Calbi put up his hand to master the whole
project.To top things off, Swedish contemporary artist
David Stenbeck came on board to create an
original artwork for the project - a beautiful floating
cloud in the shape of Australia, reflected in the water. The
image represents a hope for better times, where the beauty
of the country is reflected in ethos and spirit. World
renowned Australian photographer Jennifer
Stenglein offering an image for the ‘Beds
are Burning’ first single from the record. A
beautiful image from Australia’s NT, the colours of the
lights and sunset, a tip of the hat to the original album
cover by Midnight Oil. Stone says,
“I couldn’t believe the responses I was getting. I
received the most heart-warming replies from the biggest,
busiest artists in the world. Most of these artists have
toured here, have family here, friends here, have lived here
or spent time here. Everyone has such great memories of this
country and to see it in flames was breaking everyone’s
hearts. I often got the response that people were so happy
to be offered the opportunity to do something. Everyone
feels helpless in times like
this.” Together these artists offer a
collection of incredible covers of iconic Australian songs,
made with love and sadness and the desire to
help. Money raised from the sale of this record will
be going to: Landcare
Australia: The keystones of Landcare are that it is
community owned and driven, it encourages integrated
management of environmental assets with productive farmland,
and it promotes a more sustainable approach to private land
management. www.landcarensw.org.au SEED:
Seed is the First indigenous Youth Climate network. Their
vision is to create a sustainable future with strong
cultures and communities, powered by renewable energy. www.seedmob.org.au Emergency
Leaders for Climate Action: ELCA is comprised of 30
former senior emergency service leaders with first-hand
experience of escalating climate change impacts, who are
uniting to push for strong leadership on climate change
action. www.emergencyleadersforclimateaction.org.au WildArk:
WildArk is a global not-for-profit conservation
effort that was founded in 2016. In relation to bushfires
they are currently raising money to support the following
organisations working on wildlife rehabilitation and habitat
restoration in bushfire affected areas, the Australian
Wildlife Conservancy, Two Thumbs Koala Sanctuary, Port
Macquarie Koala Hospital and Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital. www.wildark.org NSW
RFS: NSW RFS Is the New South Wales Rural Fire
Service. It is the world's largest volunteer fire service,
with over 72,000 volunteer members, providing a
community-based fire and emergency service, to protect the
community and environment. www.rfs.nsw.gov.au The
record is available to pre-order at www.songsforaustralia.com
with exclusive limited edition bundle options also available
including personalised vinyl artwork, tote bags, T-shirts
and more. The songs will be digitally released Thursday
March 5 through BMG, with the album released on vinyl and CD
in
June.SONGS
FOR AUSTRALIA is an extraordinary album made by a
collection of global artists who have each donated their
time to record a cover of an Australian song. SONGS
FOR AUSTRALIA was made to raise money for
organisations in Australia who are working towards creating
a better future for the country and helping to rebuild
during and after the bushfire crisis. It will be digitally
released Thursday March 5 through BMG. The
album will be released on vinyl and CD in June. Firesticks:
The Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation provides
leadership, advocacy and action to protect, conserve and
enhance cultural and natural values of people and Country
through Cultural Fire, land restoration and wellbeing
practices. www.firesticks.org.au