Ask any artist what’s most on their mind, and the idea of finding peace, equity and stability in a loudly divisive world will be a likely answer.
One-time ECM label producer and Red Hook Records label owner Sun Chung was also looking for psychic shelter in the storm, a solace beyond the open imaginary borders of his sonic skill set on ECM albums for Kit Downes, Thomas Strønen, Ben Monder and such.
While working on ways to celebrate his label’s fifth anniversary, he found exceptional remainder recordings from previous sessions from his past release schedule, including magical music from Red Hook label charges Wadada Leo Smith, Amina Claudine Myers, Andrew Cyrille, the late Masabumi Kikuchi and more. The suggestion to compile the leftover material came from his label’s publicist, Lydia Liebman.
“As the compilation began to take shape, however, the devastating conflicts unfolding around the world made me feel as if this could actually become something more meaningful and not just solely retrospective,” says Chung. “So I invited additional musicians to contribute pieces, which transformed the album into a collective statement dedicated to the idea of peace.”
Peace Anthems was born, a various-artists album with pro-bono contributions made from artists offering new work. The project gives 100 percent of profits the International Red Cross, including additional donations through Bandcamp.
I contacted each musician individually and began developing the project with them,” says Chung of assembling Peace Anthems. “I didn’t impose any specific musical parameters beyond inviting them to create something with the idea of peace in mind. I wanted each artist to respond in their own way, allowing the album to reflect a wide range of perspectives and musical languages.”
The process varied widely from artist to artist, he adds. “In some cases, musicians sent me fully realized pieces that only required mixing. In others, hearing the initial material inspired me to shape new collaborations. For example, BlankFor.ms sent me an instrumental track that I felt would be beautifully complemented by the voice of Moor Mother. Similarly, Taylor Deupree shared a piece that led me to rework parts of the arrangement and invite [trombonist] Kalia Vandever and [bassist] Thomas Morgan to contribute, creating a new dialogue within the music.
Along with email questions to Peace Anthems artists about their contributions to the package, I wanted to know what their version of peace is, and what they do in order to best pursue and attract it.
The questions:
1. What moment of unrest, from the past or the present, provoked you to compose what you did and delivered to the Peace Anthems project?
2. How do you believe that your songs speak to bringing peace to a time of unrest?
3. What discussions did you have with your collaborators for this project?
4. Ultimately, what is peace to you now? What would make the world a place of/a state of grace?
Taylor Deupree (“Wither Light and Airy”):
I really don’t like to make music that’s directly about something negative. I think enough people make that sort of music, and it’s so important; a protest song or an overtly political song, but I’m not that person. I’d like my music to be seen more as a respite from the constant negativity. I think the piece “Wither, Light and Airy” came more from internal unrest during a difficult time in my own life. I’m always after some form of inner peace but rarely find it. Music and sound are a way to try to keep the scales balanced.
Working with collaborators who are good listeners is the number one most important thing to me, over all other skills. The ability to be humble, to step out of the way when needed, is an indication you are able to be peaceful. In ideal musical situations this happens easily. Egos get set aside and the musicians serve the song, not themselves. The same should be applied to everyday life as well. Be respectful to your neighbors, to the nature around you, and listen.
I believe, very strongly, that if everyone on the planet listened to music more regularly it would be a more peaceful place. I’d almost go so far as to say any kind of music, whatever makes them happy. But of course, there are countless songs that speak of unity and peacefulness. I think if the entire planet right now stopped and listened to Harold Budd and Brian Eno, we’d be in a much better place.