Ambient, drone, and other experimental electronic music might not be what comes to mind when you think of protest music. But the world is not always just as flat as that. In the past, Shouts has covered electronic music and interviewed field recording artists who all use their talents to better the world.
Sometimes music and art can serve an additional function although the music itself is perhaps not made in protest. The latest compilation album from Toronto-based Polar Seas Recordings contains 23 tracks, all donated by the artists in support of All Creatures Rescue (which operates in the same city). This shelter is a wonderful initiative that might seem unusual to some who look through their page of animals available for adoption. Not many shelters have rats and other rodents available for adoption but the fact is that pet stores around the world sell all sorts of animals without proper responsibility or education for the buyers. So very often it happens that animals are thrown away after a few days when people understand that they don’t know how to take care of them. This is as much a fault of breeders as it is the fault of these stores.
The founder of Polar Seas Recordings, Brad Deschamps, told me that this is the second time he has released a compilation album in support of animals and rescue organisations.
“I’ve been vegan for about 5 years, vegetarian before that, have 2 cats and am an animal lover generally. So the label has been a great way to donate to a cause that’s important to me.” – Brad Deschamps
Brad’s 2 cats are also from an animal shelter in Toronto and his vegetarian friend, Clara Engel, helped organize this collaboration with the before mentioned shelter. Brad explained to me how it’s important for him to use the opportunities he is given to give back to the society:
“I think it’s great when given the opportunity to try to give back to causes that you believe in. I’ve made some great friends through the label and most of them are pretty keen to donate a piece for a good cause as well. I feel a connection somehow between this kind of music and empathy, music that’s soothing or relaxing but also engaging. I know many musicians who are environmentalists, animal lovers, etc.”
Please check out the album below and let this music sweep you away into another state of mind where hopefully you find the empathy to donate a small amount to the welfare of all creatures.
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Halldór is the managing editor of Shouts - Music from the Rooftops!, an investigative journalist, audio engineer, and animal rights activist. Currently based in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
