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Climate Emergency Mixtape: A Multilingual Album Addressing Environmental Issues and Climate Change
The Climate Emergency Mixtape is an innovative multilingual album featuring six rap songs that tackle pressing environmental issues and the far-reaching impacts of climate change on society. This unique project brings together six talented artistes from diverse regions of India, each contributing their regional linguistic flair to raise awareness about critical ecological challenges. The official launch of the album will culminate in a live concert at The Humming Tree in Bengaluru on October 1.
Artist Contributions and Themes
Each of the six participating artistes has penned songs that resonate with the specific environmental issues faced in their localities. One of the standout tracks, ‘Neer Kodu’ (Give Water), is crafted by Bengaluru-based hip-hop artist Kali. This song captures the alarming realities of water scarcity, diminishing green spaces, and rising temperatures in urban settings. Kali expresses concern, stating, “I believe, next summer, listeners will relate to this song differently. It will make them realize how the previous summer was better and how we have neglected our land.”
Representing Tamil Nadu, The Sollisai Sistahs bring forth their Tamil-Kannada rap fusion titled ‘Veppa Marathadiyila’ (Under the Neem Tree). This powerful piece shines a spotlight on the adverse effects of climate change on marginalized and minority communities. Folk artist Rani, along with rappers Abisha and Kavya, emphasize, “In rural areas, there isn’t enough awareness regarding climate change, and these are the very spaces that are most affected. That is why this song focuses on representing remote spaces and their struggles with climate change.”
From Maharashtra, 19-year-old sociology student and rapper Devanshi presents ‘Nisargacha Kaayda’ (Law of Nature), which addresses environmental conditions in the state through a mix of various regional accents, including a raw rendition of Marathi aimed at connecting with audiences in remote areas. “I have also spoken about how we treat animals,” Devanshi adds, diving deep into issues of deforestation, soil erosion, and farmer suicides.
Naveen Koomar, hailing from Delhi, contributes ‘Vann Katte,’ a song infused with elements of Ragini, a traditional Haryanvi folk music form. This track is deeply personal for Naveen, as he reflects on his childhood memories associated with the Aravalli range. “My ancestors lived in the lap of the Aravallis, and as a child, I used to travel to my village for the holidays. Back then, I could see the mountains from the terrace of our house, but over the years, that view has been blocked by buildings that have replaced the trees,” he recounts. “As a child, I felt as I grew taller, the height of the mountains seemed to decrease. I wanted to represent that in my song.”
Delhi’s Alkama, an 18-year-old independent rapper, expresses her thoughts in ‘Nasht Environment.’ She shares, “When I was asked to write a song on the environment and nature, I knew I had to address the climatic conditions of the city. Though this is the first time I have undertaken this topic, I believe it is my best project to date.” Her song focuses on various aspects of Delhi’s environmental challenges, particularly in the southeast regions of the city.
Finally, Gamak Sinha, also based in Mumbai, will be unveiling her contribution, ‘Soil,’ at the concert, completing the lineup of passionate voices committed to raising awareness about climate change.
Concert Details
The concert, which celebrates the launch of the Climate Emergency Mixtape, has been organized by a coalition including Youth Ki Awaaz, Kraantinari, Asar Social Impact Advisors, Folksoul, and the Climate Culture Collective. Brikesh Singh from Asar Social Impact Advisors emphasizes Bengaluru’s history of activism, stating, “Bengaluru as a city has always taken a stand on important issues, whether at Sankey Tank or the recent protests at Lal Bagh. That is one of the reasons we chose this city for the Climate Emergency Concert.”
Tickets for the Climate Emergency Concert are priced at ₹499 and are available through Skillbox. More information can be found on the Youth Ki Awaaz website.
Conclusion
The Climate Emergency Mixtape not only showcases the artistic talents of young Indian rappers but also serves as a crucial platform for discussing the urgent environmental challenges of our time. By blending regional languages and cultural influences, this album aims to engage listeners, prompting them to reflect on their relationship with nature and their responsibility towards the planet.
