A Dose Of Hope In Dark Times

This week's podcast, and a few of the recent episodes, have been a bit different. Not because the format has changed or there's been a big mindset shift, but because what my guests have been doing hits different when the world is as bleak as it is.

Both last week and this week's conversations - with Jack from The Ticket Bank and with Music Declare Emergency's Ella Harris - explore how they've decided the old ways don't work and have created a system break. Or maybe the start of a whole new paradigm.

Ella is one third of the brilliant electro-trio PVA, who have released an early contender for album of the year - if you like the idea of speak-singing (more of that in this week's playlist at the end of this newsletter) over dark deconstructed Massive Attack grooves, those 'I Feel Love' kick drums, and big Soulwax/Robyn-y singles, then join me on their neon dance-floor. No More Like This is getting a lot of love in our community's January album of the month poll.

The record was my album of January and this track 'Send' hits my Nine Inch Nails and Factory Floor throbbing boxes.

No More Like This, by PVA

10 track album

PVAsimo_72

Whilst we touched on the fantastic album, our conversation was mostly about the joy of nature and her role at Music Declares Emergency. That's the org who run the hugely successful No Music On A Dead Planet campaign, which through the support of acts like Billie Eilish and Brian Eno, has reached over 500 million music fans worldwide.

"Hope is something you can do. And you can build in yourself and build in your community."
- Ella Harris

Their new campaign could not be more up my street. Not only does Hope Over Fear have really cool merch but the sales will help to fund action hubs in grassroots venues - physical spaces where music fans can organize around climate action (and maybe more) in real life, not just online.

• Listen on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get yours
• Watch the podcast on YouTube
• Grab your Hope Over Fear merch