For many of us, the recent Gulf oil spill gave rise to an intense barrage of emotions. Sadness at the countless lives lost at the event, both human and non. Awe at the magnitude of the damage to the environment and economy of the gulf. Anger that the parties involved were not better prepared for a disaster of this magnitude, and helplessness that we couldn’t do more.
The Oregon-based electronic folk duo Wilderland certainly felt all the above emotions, but the Gulf oil spill also offered the group an inspiring sense of synchronicity. When the tragedy struck, Wilderland were in the middle of recording their song “Fragile Day,” which contained the eerily prophetic lyric "Fish are dimming while they're swimming / Blackened ocean of foam.”
Wilderland singer/songwriter/guitarist Scott Blum describes his reaction to the amazing coincidence: “It was humbling to realize we were a vessel that had been given this important message to get out to the world…once we accepted that this song was a gift to the planet as a whole, we didn't have a choice but to offer the proceeds to the talented and hardworking individuals whose task is to clean up this disaster.” Wilderland are donating all proceeds from iTunes sales of "Fragile Day" to three important charities helping the habitat affected by the oil spill. These organizations include The Gulf Restoration Network, EarthShare and the WILD Foundation.
“Fragile Day” is built of droning guitar figures and downtempo soundscapes. Though its brooding sound evokes the darkened horizons of an unsure environmental future, Wilderland approached the song as a unifying call to action. “Ultimately the song is about hope,” Blum says. ”In some ways the environmental crisis is a gift to us all as it affects every one of us equally…and there is ultimately only one point of view that we can all get behind: Heal the planet quickly or we as humans will perish with it.”
To create the song’s haunting atmosphere, Wilderland enlisted cellist Julia Papps and renowned DJ / multi-instrumentalist Rara Avis (Desert Dwellers, Shaman's Dream). Music industry superstars Toby Wright (Grammy-winning producer of Alice in Chains, KISS, Slayer, etc.) and Stephen Marcussen (mastering engineer for Stevie Wonder, Cher, Paul McCartney, etc.) both contributed their expertise to the project.
Wilderland's hopes for their noble effort reach far beyond raising money. "Music has a unique ability to touch people on a much deeper and more profound level than the news media can," Blum offers. Once our hearts are collectively opened up, we can all realize that taking care of the Earth is every one of our responsibilities. Whether writing a song, washing oil off pelicans in the Gulf of Mexico, or consciously sending healing thoughts to Mother Earth, we are all able to make a very real difference with our individual efforts.”
To download "Fragile Day" and find out more about Winderland, visit www.fragileday.com.