About the Music
They Say There Are Beautiful Trees
"I don't know when I'll see you next. Only the Angel Gabriel knows when each of our times comes. But when it does, and gravity leaves our feet, and we rise up, I know I'll see you up there. And they say there are beautiful trees in Heaven." - Harold Areno
This piece is inspired by Arlie Russell Hochschild’s Strangers in Their Own Land, a book exploring the seemingly conflicting viewpoints of Louisiana residents who both love the environment they live in yet reject any environmental regulations that could preserve their land. The book beautifully illustrates how it is possible to build bridges with people and communities of opposing politics.
Solastalgia
"The homesickness you have when you are still at home." Oftentimes, environmental degradation leads to this feeling. Some areas are abundant with nature and natural resources. For many, these places are their homes. Then, one day, corporations extract resources until the area is no longer recognizable. One is only left wondering what happened to what they call home.
Inspired by Naomi Klein’s story of the island of Nauru in her book This Changes Everything.
Is this my fault?
Shortly after the Flint Water Crisis came to light, I went to Flint to volunteer by going door-to-door making sure residents had everything they needed. One story I heard was about a mother who had two young children that were constantly sick. Though this was a result of the contaminated water, she could not help but ask herself, “Is this my fault?” When writing this piece, I found myself reflecting on my experiences with anxiety, as I often ask myself this question.
Makes No Cents
There is a threat to forests and communities in the South – industrial biomass. Corporations clear cut forests for profit while stealing the clean air and water that communities depend on for their health and well-being. Through my work with Dogwood Alliance, an environmental non-profit in Asheville, NC, I had the opportunity to work alongside these frontline communities, particularly the Concerned Citizens of Richmond County, and experience the incredible resiliency they have.
The title is in reference to the lack of logic behind biomass. It does not prove to be economically sound – making no “cents” – and does not prove to be beneficial to the environment or community – making no “sense.”
Iron Eyes
The inspiration for this piece comes from a passage from Naomi Klein’s book, No Is Not Enough, regarding an experience she had at the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s camp resisting the Dakota Access Pipeline. I was at another part of camp when this event occurred. “I will never forget the experience of being at the main camp when the news arrived, after the months of resistance, that the Obama administration had finally denied the pipeline permit. I happened to be standing with Tokata Iron Eyes, a fiercely grounded yet playful thirteen-year-old from Standing Rock who had helped kick-start the movement against the pipeline. I turned on my phone video and asked her how she felt about the breaking news. ‘Like I have my future back,’ she replied, and then she burst into tears. I did too.”
Estrange Us
There are dark forces that strive to divide us from the environment and from each other. The more connected we are with the environment and one another, the stronger we all are. But, the more divisive we become, the weaker we become. The world we live in encourages competition, but I believe we should instead focus on collaboration.
Communion (ft. RaShad Eas)
No one person has the answer, but when we come together as a community, we can find the solutions. For true solutions, we should turn to the communities who are on the frontlines. Oftentimes, we try speaking for these communities, but instead we should be listening to their voice.
Visions of Freedom
Freedom from desire. Freedom from greed. Freedom from oppression. Freedom to enjoy the outdoors. Freedom from inequality. Freedom is our goal, but no one is truly free until we are all free.
Spoken Word Pieces
For each of the spoken word artists on the album, I simply gave them the prompt, “What does the environment mean to you?” and they wrote and performed the pieces you hear, with background music written by myself and performed by the band.
