Letters For Black Lives-Spoken Word For a World of Change

Letters For Black Lives (LFBL) started with the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2016.  Using Google docs, Twitter, and Slack, a small group of mainly Asian collaborators created a crowdsourced open platform to write the first letter, a letter aimed at opening dialog within families. The letter has now been translated into over twenty languages with numerous recordings and videos.

The letter starts:  "Mom, Dad, Uncle, Auntie, Grandfather, Grandmother, Family:  We need to talk."  I think most of us can relate to the silent pause that often follows that statement.  It's the prelude to a difficult conversation, but one that, now more than ever, needs to be had about racial injustice in our society.

With the recent killing of George Floyd and the resulting mass protests his murder ignited across the globe, LFBL is once again active, and has revised the letter to reflect the atmosphere of our current crisis.  Here at ccMixter, we are proud to have the recent translations included in the Break The Silence Remix event.

"Because LFBL releases their works under CC0 licenses, we are able to easily collaborate with them." says Kara Square, "This is a great example of why Creative Commons was created, to allow people to share, express, and move culture forward."

These letters are powerful.  We are grateful to have the spoken word version available for remixing in our community projects, and we encourage any and all to participate, to translate and to speak up in this time of new hope for a world where Black Lives Matter.  We encourage you to have the conversation, break the silence and end the violence.

Relevant Links:
Letters For Black Lives Website
Interview with Creative Commons
Break The Silence Remix Event

Catalyst Remix Event Exemplifies Creativitiy During Pandemic

I believe art is a connection, like passing on a flame. ~Wangechi Mutu

With over 70 remixes produced during the COVID-19 pandemic,  our community of musicians highlighted the strength and vitality of creative collaboration online. 

As the event announcement reads, "Music can be a catalyst."  Certainly we hope that this event catalyses a new energy in listeners as they explore the remixes we received. 

Listen to the REMIXES here: 
http://beta.ccmixter.org/playlist/browse/55167?limit=40

It may seem like our world is in a dark chapter. For some, there is no light. For others, the promise of tomorrow illuminates the way of hope.  Stay Healthy and Creative!

The Pandemic Podcast ccMIxter Interview

Here is a rare chance to hear ccMixter artists Snowflake, Whitewolf, and Javolenus as they speak with the hosts of The Pandemic Podcast about collaborative music during COVID-19. Filled with music, knowledge, and history, this interview is an excellent way to get insight from a few of the voices that make up the collective voice of ccMixter. To listen, go to the podcast link on Soundcloud.

Frank Zappa said, "Music is the only religion that delivers the goods," and this listen into the ccMixter's esoteric world of Creative Commons remixing underlines that sentiment. Snowflake, Whitewolf and Javolenus deliver the goods and explain why in a way that is illuminating especially during this time of worldwide pandemic. An extra special feature is Snowflake's live performance to close the show.

RELEVANT LINKS:

WhiteWolf
* ccmixter.org/people/Whitewolf225/profile
* @murray-studer

Javolenus
* ccmixter.org/people/Javolenus/profile

Snowflake
* ccmixter.org/people/snowflake/profile
* tunetrack.net/artistech
* www.madamsnowflake.com
* www.youtube.com/c/MadamSnowflake
* instagram.com/madam_snowflake

MUSIC:

Ambience of Uncertainty
By Whitewolf featuring Javolenus
ccmixter.org/files/Whitewolf225/61235

By Javolenus
ccmixter.org/files/Javolenus/61222

Adapting To Crisis

Original image from The Leaf

Musicians have been particularly hard hit by the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Artists and performers all over the globe have had their sources of income canceled with no end in sight. At this point in time, reports are showing it could get worse before it gets better. This devastating news can be hard to adapt to. How do we create stability during this time of global crisis?

Here at ccMixter, we are doing our best to provide our community and our listeners with the best information and strategies to cope with the disruption caused by this pandemic. That's why we're posting this blog with links to resources we've found that can help guide us through this catastrophic chapter in our history.

Music creation is our passion, and we care deeply about the musicians who participate in the collaboration that takes place on our site. Music is healing, connecting, and a source of comfort. But when your worried about basic survival it can be difficult, seemingly impossible, to get in that space where music is regenerative. We hope these resources help.

Links:
Some Advice On Working From Home-from Creative Commons
Solid advice for organizations and individuals working from home
Corona Virus Update for Musicians: What you can do today
Damian Keyes Video on strategies for working musicians
9 Way To Stay Positive During The Corona Virus Pandemic
Simple but effective things to do that can help get you out of a funk.
Musicians Cope With Corona Virus Crisis-NPR
Audio interview with musicians
America For The Arts
Resources for Creatives in the USA

Us Universe Secret MIxter

A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. ~Albert Einstein

In times of crisis, personal or global, we can easily forget our true connection to each other. We might isolate ourselves into imaginary shells of security, or withdraw into silent shadows. Perhaps we let fear guide us instead of reaching out for support. If we fall into an Us and Them mentality, we might lose our sense of compassion for each other --  and forget that we are all part of the whole.

Our global community at ccMixter is connected by the most powerful language in the world -- music. Our creativity is based on collaboration, and sharing is integral to our process. With each remix we upload, we experience the wholeness of Us.

That is why we titled the upcoming Secret Mixter "Us Universe." From March 8 through March 21, participants commit to creating music in the spirit of widening our circles of connection and compassion.

Have you never experienced a Secret Mixter before?  Follow this link.
http://ccmixter.org/topics/view/69008

This event's submissions are available here:
http://ccmixter.org/mixup/spring_2020

I am with you together, part of the whole -- Us, Universe.

Minimoog Voyager, The Smithsonian, and CC Zero

This is the Minimoog Voyager that J. Dilla used to create trend setting lo-fi Hip-Hop tracks that still influence music creation today.  Why is this picture so important?  Because it's part of the collection the Smithsonian recently released to the world using Creative Commons CC-0 licensing.

What?  Read on my #ccmusic music lovers....read on.

Smithsonian Releases 2.8 Million Images + Data into the Public Domain Using CC0

https://creativecommons.org/2020/02/27/smithsonian-releases-2-8-million-images-data-into-the-public-domain-using-cc0/

Minimoog Voyager synthesizer used by J Dilla

https://www.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2014.139.2a

Falling in Love with Falling on YouTube

The video for Falling by Madam Snowflake is now released on YouTube, just in time for the most romantic time of the year.  Produced by Loveshadow and mastered by Nico Fyve, the artistic video production of Kara Square is a perfectly paired with Snowflake's ethereal vocals and Loveshadow's lush sounds -- filling the senses with heartfelt emotions.  Happy Valentines Day.

Falling is the fourth track from Madam Snowflake's 2018 release Honey Valentine and can be enjoyed freely at her website here.  The collection is a must have for any romantic occasion.

We here at ccMixter are quite proud of Madam Snowflake and grateful for her loving contributions to our community.  She has a way of bringing the best out in all of us.  Keep digging, keep creating, and keep love alive!