LA-based songwriter Vince Grant releases music under the moniker of The Sea At Midnight. In his lyricism, he seeks to confront the problems our reality faces, and his actions follow suit, donating all Bandcamp proceeds for his latest track to those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.
That track is ‘Chopping Them Down’, a commentary on deforestation that has a wider statement to make on the climate change crisis. It’s a progressive single, starting small at the beginning but rising to a momentous climax with astute and assertive lyricism.
Chainsaws set the scene as the track opens up, as the tree falls, the groove kicks in. Acoustic guitars, strong drums and a momentum-inducing bass emerge. The vocals are angered but controlled; this piece of music activism isn’t looking to make enemies, just a point, an important one, doing so with emotional flair. Melodically, it’s a mix of nostalgic vocoder synths and a call-and-response between the electric guitar and voice. An effective art that tees up a brand-new EP later in the year.
In his own words, Vince shared, “The science behind climate change is straightforward: carbon dioxide, primarily from burning fossil fuels, accumulates in the atmosphere, trapping heat that would otherwise escape into space. This leads to rising global temperatures and climate instability. Trees play a crucial role in mitigating this by absorbing carbon dioxide, converting it into oxygen, and storing carbon. However, when forests are destroyed—whether through logging, land clearing, or wildfires—the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming. This means that deforestation eliminates a vital carbon sink and accelerates climate change by adding more carbon dioxide to the air. In a time when we are already witnessing devastating climate impacts, continuing to destroy forests and fuel this destructive cycle is nothing short of madness to me.”
Listen to ‘Chopping Them Down’ here:
