“Everyday Climate Champions” Podcast Episode 11: Music as a Voice for Climate Action
Written by Keith Nickolaus
Learn more about Climate Reality Bay Area’s podcast, Everyday Climate Champions here.
“Using the creative process can connect people in different ways. There's something about art that builds community.” - Pete Kronowitt
Listen to Episode 11: here
Transcript: here
Guests: Pete Kronowitt, Songwriter
Host: Sean Mendelson
Summary:
Yes, climate science and policy talk often dominate climate conversations. But today’s guest, Pete Kronowitt, is a Bay Area singer and songwriter who uses music to promote climate action. Pete talks about his current climate initiatives and explains how music helps him raise awareness about climate change, connect with young people, and build community. Enjoy samples of some of the musical pieces Pete has been working on! Discover how Pete plans to engage students in a climate action campaign in conjunction with his soon-to-be released song “I Wanna Be Cool.”
Why This Matters:
Connecting climate action to music can be a powerful and refreshing way to raise awareness and promote action about climate change. Pete was inspired to use music as a tool for action after coming across this quote from songwriter and organizer Joe Hill: "A pamphlet, no matter how good, is never read more than once, but a song is learned by heart and repeated over and over."
Pete discusses his insight into the role that physical performances and performance spaces play in making music a more effective catalyst for collective action. As a result, he created the Face the Music Collective. The collective now has some 80 social justice artists who organize creative musical gatherings to help build and invigorate participation in climate action and social justice initiatives.
Pete also is part of the Music Declares Emergency movement. The movement’s motto is striking: “No Music on a Dead Planet.” Since it started in 2019 in the UK, many world-famous musicians have added their names to the movement’s emergency declaration.
Key Takeaways
Pete realized that music has a power to reach people, but that simply hearing a song often doesn’t galvanize action. He created the Face the Music Collective to encourage partnerships and event organizing that connects people in physical spaces for musical enjoyment and creative climate organizing.
Songwriting has great potential for promoting climate awareness and action. Lyrics can be used in unique and creative ways to reach large audiences and raise awareness about climate change and the threats it poses, while also inspiring hope, joy, and action.
Pete’s activism and the commitments of other artists that have joined the Face the Music Collective and the Music Declares Emergency movement are a reminder that diverse individuals and diverse talents can play a role in combating climate change.
Pete’s current project will involve thousands of youth from around the Bay Area in a choral project in conjunction with the upcoming release of his new song “I Wanna Be Cool.” The project is looking for collaborators, possibly YOU, who can help get schools plugged into the project. The project coordinators are also looking for ways community members can help local kids find climate-oriented organizations or projects they can contribute to.
Pete’s working on a project to recruit thousands of young people to sing as a chorus on the upcoming recording of “I Wanna Be Cool.” Pete sees the project as an opportunity to help young people internalize what's happening in the climate. This is a critical first step to taking real action to help protect the planet for all living things (including ourselves).
Pete envisions collaborating with educators and other climate advocacy groups to use the “I Wanna Be Cool” project as a springboard for a larger, ongoing effort to advance climate education and climate action collaborations that engage youth.
The “I Wanna Be Cool” project also aspires to create a music video and partner with music teachers to turn some of the young singers into designated “climate champions” at their schools.
How to Take Action
Find out more about how to get YOUR student involved in the climate activist song and video project at https://climatemusic.org/paths-to-action/
Music teachers or other school partners interested in helping build partnerships between students, student performers, and climate initiatives at their school should also seek more information at http://ClimateMusic.org
Connect with the Face the Music Collective (http://FaceTheMusicCollective.org) to learn more about their work to use musical performances to drive climate action
Find out more about household rebates and tax incentives for electrifying appliances in your home with the help of the Rewiring America IRA calculator: https://www.rewiringamerica.org/app/ira-calculator
Related Websites:
Music Declares Emergency U.S.: https://musicdeclares.net: These artists, music industry professionals, and organizations stand together to declare a climate and ecological emergency and call for an immediate governmental response to protect all life on Earth.
The ClimateMusic Project: http://ClimateMusic.org: Combines the talents and expertise of world-class scientists, composers, musicians, artists, and technology visionaries to create and present music and visual experiences that inspire climate action. This website is also the hub for those interested in connecting with the upcoming “I Wanna Be Cool” music and video project.
#BeCoolSong Campaign page: https://www.facebook.com/BeCoolSong/: Keep up with the latest outreach and developments for the “I Wanna Be Cool” music and video project. Please Like and Share on Facebook!
Roly Poly Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I2n2zfpwzE: This song was one of those featured in this episode.
Contact Us: Do you know a Bay Area-based Everyday Climate Champion? We’d love to interview them! Or just want to share a comment or hear about new episodes?
Get in touch: crba.eccpodcast@gmail.com
Get notified of new episodes HERE
Podcast Production Team: Executive Producer: Dalya Massachi; Sound Designers: Kayla Anchell, Trevor Skerbe; Co-Hosts/Researchers: George Dy, Ellisa Feinstein, Isabella Genereaux, Sean Mendelson, Hasini Parepalli, Lex Schrader, Alex Williams; Logo Designer: Gabriela Vargas