Astronaut & Rockstar to Beam Music From Space
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
It’s a peculiar pairing, yes, but don’t the oddest pairings bare the best results? Case in point: CBC Music, the Coalition for Music Education, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) are partnering to bring us some music that’s way out there — 370 kilometres out there.
Canadian Astronaut, musician and songwriter, Chris Hadfield will cowrite a music track with Canada’s own Ed Robertson (of Barenaked Ladies fame) from aboard the International Space Station (ISS). As a veteran of two space shuttle missions, Hadfield will launch to the ISS in December 2012, and will act as the Station’s commander — the first time a Canadian astronaut has held this high distinction.
Ed Robertson and Chris Hadfield will premiere a new song from space. Credit: CBC Music
Who says science and art don’t mix?
Though this may not be the first time the ISS has played host to the arts, science clearly reigns supreme aboard the ISS. For six months however, Hadfield will bring some artistry for the duration of his commanding mission.
“I want to record as much as I can on orbit,” Hadfield told Robertson, when they first met at CBC studios.
“Just so you don’t have any technical troubles, I should probably be up on the ISS, because you’ve got a lot of science stuff you’ve got to deal with,” Robertson replied, in the Barenaked Ladies’ tongue-in-cheek manner.
“That makes sense. And if the guitar’s out of tune up there, you could bring some strings,” Hadfield answered.
From the get-go, it seems these two minstrels already possess the quick connection necessary to pen a stellar tune. Between now and next May, Chris and Ed will compose music and lyrics for 2013′s official Music Monday song. CBC Music will produce a series of videos around the collaboration, giving music students and fans an inside perspective on their songwriting partnership as it unfolds between the divide of space and Earth.
“The message I would like to waeave into this is the miraculous nature of what human beings are capable of,” says Robertson.
“I agree. It’s all about overcoming limits — that’s what drew me into being an astronaut,” Hadfield replied. “I tell the kids all the time — in space, you’re a superhero: you can fly, and could lift a tall building with one hand. But if you want to get there — or wherever you want to be — you need to set your goals high and be prepared to work hard.”
“Music Monday exists to celebrate that galvanizing power of music and highlight the importance of protecting quality music programs in our schools,” explains Coalition for Music Education Executive Director, Holly Nimmons.
Music Monday is celebrated on the first Monday of May as students and teachers take their music program outdoors and into their communities. They perform the same song at the same time, with the aim of uniting the entire country in song.
The finished tune will premier across the CBC’s spectrum of programming in 2013.
This year’s official Music Monday song, “Tomorrow is Coming”, was written by Juno-nominated Canadian folk artist Luke Doucet. The song is available on iTunes, with proceeds supporting the Coalition for Music Education. You can listen to it here.
by Theras Wood
Follow us on Twitter @UrtheCast @TherasWood