‘So divided before the fall, we survived because we’re fighting on the same side after all.’
These words, from the song Northern Rivers Rising, say much about the community’s response to the February floods.
They are a powerful part of the lead track in the highly-anticipated Flood Songs Compilation.
The brainchild of local sound engineer, Jan Muths, The Flood Songs Compilation intends to help local people process their trauma, and to raise funds for local musicians who have been severely affected by the floods.
‘Everyone has got their own flood story to tell,’ Mr Muths says.
Terror, hope and community spirit
‘Some stories are truly terrifying, others tell us about hope and community spirit – all of them are important.’
‘Sharing these stories through song is an important part of our collective healing and we hope to get these songs out there to the whole community and to help local musicians at the same time.’
Mr Muths and a small team of professional producers and sound engineers invited musicians from flood-affected areas across the region to put their flood stories into songs, record a simple demo and then submit it to the project.
Seven songs were chosen by an industry panel and then produced by professionals who donated their services to the project.
This included all recording, mixing, mastering and distribution.
‘One of the key motivating factors behind the project is that when it comes to government flood support, artists and musicians seem to have have been the last ones on the agenda,’ Mr Muths says.
Industry professionals
The team of volunteers working with Mr Muths included local industry professionals, Saphia Smeraka and Nathan Stanborough, and acclaimed Victorian producer, Andy Stewart.
‘I thought it would be great to do something to support these people who add so much to the life of our community by sharing their incredible music,’ Mr Muths said.
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