A Platform for Ethnically and Culturally Inspired Music
I thought about how - deep inside - we know that we are all made of the same material. We are all descendants from a common origin.
I focused on the phrase “we are the descendants." Over about a year of outreach, I contacted native speakers in 78 non-English languages, and asked them to translate this into natural phrases within each language. It was more involved than I had predicted. Many languages don’t have a word for “descendants,”and so the translators came up with other poetic ways of communicating this concept.
I composed a melody for each translation that would allow them to interweave with all of the other international phrases.
I focused on the main song, “We are the Descendants (in 79 languages)“ and I used that as a template to test all of the vocal tracks with me singing rough versions.
When I got all 78 of them to work together, another year was spent seeking brilliant, talented vocalists from all over the world to record these phrases. Recording sessions were arranged from Kenya to Netherlands.
I felt like a mad scientist in a laboratory, experimenting with the phrases, seeing what other pieces of music could be born from this precious material.
14 songs were created for the collection, most using these phrases. Also included are a few solo songs in Swahili, Mongolian, and Xhosa.
On “We are the Descendants,” I had composed rap verses to be performed in English which would be surrounded by the 78 other tracks. Platinum recording artist, American rapper, Fredo Bang performed the English verses. His powerful, commanding style brought an energetic drive to the song.
I had been used to mixing and producing my own work for years. But finding myself surrounded with 79 international tracks, all recorded quite differently, a complete pallet of electronic textures, and complex symphonic orchestral tracks, I started to feel like I had bitten off more than I could chew. How does one balance all these elements so that they can coexist and not overwhelm the listener?
I sought help from the amazing sonic wizard, 25-time Grammy nominated Richard Furch (Prince, Usher). He beautifully refined my tracks to better achieve the kind of clarity and balance I was reaching for.
Coming soon is an extremely unique video with a Science Fiction, futuristic setting, in which all of the vocalists are interwoven together, starring rapper Fredo Bang.
My hope is that this music serves as a reminder of our common origin. That regardless of worldly chaos, we share a common destiny.
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Steven Chesne
www.chezworks.com
