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Songs of the Earth, developed and directed by multi-disciplinary artist, musician and EARTHDAY.ORG ambassador Soumik Datta in partnership with EARTHDAY.ORG, is set to premiere at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26 today (02 November).
The animated film is accompanied by an eight-track album responding to climate change, weaving issues from climate migration, extreme weather to ocean pollution, deforestation and sustainable fashion through original narrative, songs and immersive visuals.
The British Council’s Creative Commissions programme, which commissioned a series of creative projects to explore climate change through art, science and digital technology, supported Songs of the Earth.
The 24-minute film follows Asha, a young climate refugee from Bengal, as she searches for her missing father through the flood banks of the Sundarban delta, burning forests and melting polar ice caps.
It also addresses the carbon impact of the fashion industry and the plight of climate migrants. The film is a dedication to the global south and those who have been displaced by environmental crises and natural disasters.
‘At the heart of the film is a question – is our behaviour as a people sustainable? As consumers, many of us are part of a cycle of buying and discarding – and somehow, the photos of polluted oceans, landfill mountains and toxic rivers don’t always connect back to us.
‘I’d love for young people to respond to Songs of the Earth and think about how they could make small changes to the environment around them and start valuing this behaviour as a measure of good citizenship – as a badge of humanity.’
SOUMIK DATTA
Artist, creator, composer, director of Songs of the Earth
Rooted in conversations with a panel of climate consultants and associates in India, the film and album bring together animators and musicians from the UK and India.
‘It’s been an amazing experience working with Soumik and his team. EARTHDAY.ORG firmly believes in art’s power to widen the message about the need for all inhabitants of Earth to do their bit to help restore it and circumvent us reaching that point when the planet becomes inhabitable for humans.
‘We look forward to organising several events down the line around Songs of the Earth. We are so glad that many major environmental organisations in India have already pledged support to do so.’
KARUNA SINGH
Regional director Asia, EARTHDAY.ORG
The film will be previewed at the UK Prime Minister’s office at No 10 Downing Street and Royal Albert Hall in London and premiere at COP26 in Glasgow.
Featuring a suite of original climate anthems written and composed by Soumik, including ‘Oceans Rising’ and ‘Fields of Hope’, the lyrics carry profound environmental messages that embody conscious activism.
These songs will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major streaming platforms from today (02 November, 2021).
The project, aside from the animated film and album, will also be available as an educational resource for schools and youth labs in the shape of an e-book, accessible through Soumik’s Instagram.
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