Students from two Hampshire college music departments are collaborating on writing and recording two songs highlighting the issue of climate change, which they will publish as a double A-side vinyl single with the help of chart-topping indie musician Jack Flanagan.
The Art For Earth’s Sake project is being guided by Richard Taunton Sixth Form College music teacher Tim Jackson and his St Vincent Sixth Form College counterpart Joe Chilcott, as well as former Mystery Jets bassist Jack.
The second year students began writing the songs before the summer holidays and have not met to rehearse and perform their songs to each other before preparing for the recording session.
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The two groups offered each other positive feedback after performing the Richard Taunton track, Last Chance, and the St Vincent creation, Mistakes.
They were written with advice from Jack when he visited both colleges earlier this year. He will be returning to supervise the recording sessions.
Tim said: “It has been exciting watching the two groups come up with these songs about the environment, especially as neither knew what the other was doing. Today has been great because it’s the first time they’ve heard each other’s song and it's gone really well.”
Joe said the students began laying down guide tracks in preparation for the recording session. “I think the students have really enjoyed the process and the collaboration,” he said. “You can sometimes get siloed in your own area so it's great to work with other people doing a similar thing to you but maybe you can pick up some new ideas from them.”
Jack Flanagan, who is currently working on his own material as well as producing and engineering other artists’ work, said he is looking forward to returning for the recording sessions.
“I had a blast with both sets of students when they were putting the songs together initially and I was really impressed with what they wrote,” he said. “It’s going to be great fun to come back for the recording and hear the finished songs.”
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