Music students from two Hampshire colleges are collaborating on a unique project to write and record songs highlighting the issue of climate change. The initiative, dubbed “Art For Earth’s Sake,” will see the tracks released as a double A-side vinyl single, with guidance from indie musician Jack Flanagan.
The students, from Richard Taunton Sixth Form College in Southampton and St Vincent College in Gosport, have been working on the songs since earlier this year, with Flanagan, a former bassist for the Mystery Jets, providing creative input. The project is led by music teachers Tim Jackson at Richard Taunton and Joe Chilcott at St Vincent.
This week, the students came together for the first time to rehearse and perform their respective songs. Richard Taunton’s group presented their track titled Last Chance, while the St Vincent students performed Mistakes. Both songs explore the urgent issue of climate change and were written with support from Flanagan, who visited the colleges earlier this year.
Tim Jackson, music teacher at Richard Taunton, praised the students’ efforts. “It’s been exciting to see both groups develop their songs about the environment, especially since neither knew what the other was working on. Today was the first time they’ve heard each other’s songs, and it’s gone really well,” he said.
The students received positive feedback from their peers during the rehearsal session at St Vincent College, which also served as preparation for the forthcoming recording session. The college has recently upgraded its recording studio, offering students a more professional environment to work in.
Joe Chilcott, music teacher at St Vincent College, said the collaboration between the two institutions has been invaluable. “The students have really enjoyed the process. It’s easy to get stuck in your own bubble, so working with others in a similar field but with different perspectives has been refreshing. There’s also a sense of healthy competition, which has been motivating,” he added.
Chilcott, who recently took over from Chris Harris as music teacher at St Vincent, emphasised the importance of the collaboration. “It’s great for the departments to work together. We can all learn from each other, and the students benefit enormously from seeing how others approach songwriting and production,” he said.
Jack Flanagan, who has been balancing his own music career with producing and engineering for other artists, is set to return to the college to oversee the recording sessions. He expressed enthusiasm for the project, saying, “I had a blast working with both sets of students when they were initially writing the songs. I was really impressed with what they came up with. I’m excited to come back for the recording and hear the final results.”
Executive Principal Andy Grant said the project offers a valuable real-world experience for students preparing for careers in the music industry. “We’re very grateful to Jack for his input. He’s provided the students with some fantastic advice. They are already receiving excellent teaching from Tim and Joe, and the Art For Earth’s Sake project adds even more to their development.”
The double A-side vinyl single is expected to be released later this year, showcasing the students’ work and raising awareness of climate change through music.
For more information on the colleges and the courses they offer, visit stvincent.ac.uk.