Young musicians from award-winning charity World Heart Beat Music Academy, Wandsworth have come together online this Valentine’s Day with its lockdown version of Stevie Wonder’s inspirational Love’s In Need Of Love Today.
The music video features 115 young vocalists, plus flutes, violins, saxophones, drums, trumpets, trombones, Tabla players and entire rhythm sections, who have come together remotely to help share the need for love and to help lift spirits in light of the continued lockdown.
Young musicians sent in their home recordings which were arranged and mixed by eminent bassist and producer, Nick Cohen, and edited by film composer, Michael Csanyi-Wills at World Heart Beat Music Academy. The poignant track was chosen to remind us all that during these unprecedented times of loss and separation from our loved ones, love is the answer in helping us keep optimistic for brighter days ahead.
Sahana Gero, MBE Founder and Artistic Director said:
“In this hugely inspirational song, Love’s in Need of Love Today, Stevie Wonder’s message to the world is clear; love is needed to help heal the world. We wanted to perform this ‘lockdown interpretation’ to bring love, empathy and the feeling of oneness to all in our community and to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. Love embodies humanity's universal aspiration for peace and oneness and gives us an avenue to express our hopes and dreams for a better, brighter future across the world.”
The continued lockdown has been very difficult for everyone, particularly children, young people and musicians. The young musicians at World Heart Beat, many of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds, have been missing the academy which is like a second home for them. World Heart Beat is supporting young people, particularly those living in challenging circumstances, with online music making and social sessions funded by its Global Giving BE THERE campaign to help maintain a sense of purpose, self-worth, and identity.
Visit https://worldheartbeat.org/share-the-love-on-valentines-day at 9.30am on Valentine's Day to see and hear the young musicians in action!
There is only one way
To lift the world,
And that way is love, abundant love,
Ever-increasing love
And Infinity-Immortality’s Love.
Sri Chinmoy, From the book Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees
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For further information, please visit www.worldheartbeat.org
Press contact: Lottie Parsons / lottie@worldheartbeat.org / 07980 680 759
NOTES TO EDITORS
World Heart Beat Music Academy provides high-quality music education and fulfilling personal development opportunities for children and young people from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds, living in Wandsworth and the surrounding boroughs.
Every week 350 students aged 5-25 years participate in a rich programme from grassroots to early-career level, learning and performing music from a breadth of music genres, reflective of the heritages of our diverse community. This includes Jazz, Asian, Brazilian, Celtic, Eastern European, Gospel, Gypsy, Latin & Reggae music. We engage thousands more people annually through workshops with schools and community groups, and performances at local festivals and eminent music venues.
We make music accessible to everyone regardless of their circumstances – 50% of our students receive full or partial bursaries to attend our academy and free instruments. In 2018, we were awarded National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status by Arts Council England, which acknowledged the quality of our work and the contribution we make to their Creative Case for Diversity and Equality.
For further information on World Heart Beat’s Global Giving BE THERE campaign, please visit: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/be-there-support-young-people-during-coronavirus/
Previous World Heart Beat lockdown music videos can be found here:
Another Star: https://youtu.be/MW8ZnmS1t9U
One for Daddy O: https://youtu.be/Gw6eCTwtzkc
We’ll be Together Again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D-ptN2JJ7k