Red Bird Rising combines a profound love song and an immense anti-war statement in his new single My Revolution — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The greatest writing comes from urgent need, and it is just such a palatable sense of urgency that motivated musician, songwriter and producer Diedrich Donald Weiss (aka Red Bird Rising) to write My Revolution. A tremendous undertaking and community effort, the features a wide range of instrumentation and musical collaborators, including Ukranian couple Taras Kuznetsov on lead vocals and Ana Pshokina on bass.
“I believe in the magic that only exists when two or more artists engage themselves fully within the natural energy of music,” Weiss says. “I have a world worn faith in the power of music to significantly change people’s lives (and) effect people’s lives positively. It’s from this place that inspired me to write My Revolution in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It may be naive to think a song could in any way substantially effect something as dominating as this horror, yet it was my answer to the inner question: What can I do?”
As if the powerful composition, fearless lyricism and ample musicianship on display wasn’t enough, he accompanying video was filmed in Odessa under threat of bombing by Russian missiles. Even during times of war, the creative impulse survives, defying those who would wish to snuff it out.
“My Revolution is about a man stuck against a force dominating his life, his dreams, and adapting his mundane but simple comforts into necessities in order to cope,” Weiss explains. “And this man is not fictional. He is Taras Kuznetsov, a 32-year-old full-time remote freelance vocalist, producer, arranger, audio engineer, drummer and pianist. The time of the scene of the song is March, 2022, about six weeks after the first Russian military intrusion of sovereignty. The location is Odessa, the port city crucial to access to import and export of vital goods and artistic soul of Ukraine.
“Because Taras is the subject of My Revolution and the lead vocalist, I wrote the lyrics as if I were him, using factual information of what he is contending with in this early stage of the invasion. The chorus which sings, “My revolution begins in my world within” is anthemic … The external world is much beyond his control. But Taras’ inner world is where he can find stability and strength to contend and keep moving forward in his life and as person. He can change, adapt, resist and grow.”
“His wife Ana, whom also plays bass guitar on the track, chose to stay with Taras in Odessa rather than flee to neighboring countries. Together, they are united to survive, yet what makes them extraordinary artists is that they are determined to keep moving forward with their music. They understand that music is what they need to contend and thrive … Music is their sanctuary.”
The project was truly an international effort. In Buenos Aires, producer Mariano Cukierman took Diedrich’s demo and recorded Fernando Moreno on drums and tracked electric guitar and keys using Diedrich’s guitar riffs and backing vocals. Kuznetsov and Pshokina braved missile and bomb strikes to add their parts in Odessa, while in New York, string arranger Megan Gould tracked violins and violas with session cellist Eleanor Norton.
The video was shot in Odessa in public, both during the day, and at night. The opening is shot from Taras’s apartment where you can hear, see and feel the chilling sirens ricocheting off the buildings in the otherwise silent night. In Colombia, Diedrich edited the video with dance scenes shot by filmmaker Flor Giardino in Buenos Aires of choreographer and dancer Melina Ascune.
Watch the video for My Revolution above, listen to the track below and follow Red Bird Rising on Instagram.
