Midnight Oil

Midnight Oil Rejoin The Fray With "Rising Seas”. Watch the official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWges...

Every child put down your toys and come inside to sleep
We have to look you in the eye and say we sold you cheap
Let’s confess we did not act with serious urgency
So open up the floodgates to the Rising Seas


These are the opening lyrics from Midnight Oil’s provocative new single which lands on the eve of next week's pivotal UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). Ice sheets are melting with 'temperatures rising’ and still Australia is dragging the global chain on real action on meaningful carbon emission targets. The uncompromising song adds the band's unique voice to billions of others around the world seeking a safe, habitable, and fair future for our planet.

‘Rising Seas’ continues a proud history of ‘campaigning’ Oils anthems - from ‘US Forces’ through ‘Blue Sky Mine’ to their recent APRA Song Of The Year collaboration, ‘Gadigal Land’.


The song is also the first taste of a brand-new Midnight Oil studio album which was created at the same time as their collaborative chart topping THE MAKARRATA PROJECT that recently received five ARIA Award nominations. Both releases were recorded pre-Covid with now sadly missed bass player, Bones Hillman and producer Warne Livesey. This new LP was originally supposed to have been released earlier this month, but it has been moved to early next year when it can be accompanied by live shows including an appearance on Bluesfest at Easter. However, the band decided to drop this one song now given its particular relevance on the eve of the important summit meeting in Glasgow.


’Rising Seas’ has been burning a hole in our pockets ever since we started tracking it two years ago,” explains guitarist/songwriter, Jim Moginie. “The climate crisis calls for a real sense of urgency so we decided not to wait any longer to share it.”

“We encourage everyone to make their voices heard in their own way on this existential issue,” says Midnight Oil frontman, Peter Garrett. “The Prime Minister is fiddling while Australia literally burns. Scott Morrison may have reluctantly accepted net zero emissions by 2050 at last but that’s nowhere near enough. No more coal or gas and a clear plan to cut carbon pollution by at least 65% below 2010 levels by 2030 is urgently needed. The rest of the world knows that our future will be all about renewable energy - that’s where the jobs are and that’s our only way to avoid a climate catastrophe. We all have a right to let our leaders know that they need to do much more to address carbon pollution. And they need to start right now.”


‘Rising Seas’ will be accompanied by a uncompromising video featuring footage gleaned from recent climate campaigns and a dynamic performance by Midnight Oil. The single’s striking artwork is by acclaimed Spanish artist Juanjo Gasull whose work has appeared in The New York Times, TIME, New York Magazine and The Guardian amongst others. The video for ‘Rising Seas’ was shot in Sydney in September and is directed by Hype Republic's Cameron March with Mac De Souza (Bra Boys) as executive producer. The clip features incredible stock footage provided by Greenpeace.


For more information about how to make a difference on climate go to:
www.acf.org.au
www.greenpeace.org.au
www.climatecouncil.org.au

4 years ago | [YT] | 203

Midnight Oil

NEW SINGLE 'GADIGAL LAND' OUT FRIDAY. PRE-SAVE: midnightoil.lnk.to/GadigalPreSave
This Friday we’ll be releasing our first piece of new music in nearly 20 years with ‘Gadigal Land’ - the first single from our forthcoming mini-album ‘The Makarrata Project’ (out late October). It features special contributions by vocalists Kaleena Briggs, Bunna Lawrie, Dan Sultan plus a lyrical section written and delivered by Gadigal poet, Joel Davison.

The following night, a special studio video of the song will premiere during the National Indigenous Music Awards (https://www.nima.musicnt.com.au) telecast on NITV from 7pm AEST and simulcast on National Indigenous Television (NITV), Doubl​e J, National Indigenous Radio Service, TEABBA, Facebook, Youtube and ​Twitter.

We’ve always been happy to lend our voice to those who call for racial justice, but it really feels like we’ve reached a tipping point. We urge the federal government to heed the messages in the Uluru Statement From The Heart and act accordingly. Hopefully this song and 'The Makarrata Project’ mini-album we’ve created alongside our First Nations friends can help shine a bit more light on the urgent need for genuine reconciliation in this country and in many other places too.

After centuries of struggle for recognition and justice, 2017’s Uluru Statement called for the establishment of a ‘First Nations Voice’ enshrined in the Australian Constitution and the establishment of a ‘Makarrata Commission’ to supervise agreement-making and truth-telling between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We will donate our share of any proceeds received from this release to organisations which seek to elevate The Uluru Statement From The Heart in particular and Indigenous reconciliation more broadly (https://www.ulurustatement.org). Sony Music Entertainment Australia will match any artist contribution.

- Midnight Oil

5 years ago | [YT] | 176