Acclaimed singer-songwriter Melody Gardot made headlines last month when she launched a call on social networks for musicians and people to join her on a new project titled “From Paris With Love”. After reviewing hundreds of the online submissions, the final piece is ready.
From the United States, Armenia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Brazil, to Norway and beyond, Gardot’s new single combines the musicality and skills of orchestral musicians from all over the world who have never met, many of whom have been out of work these past few months currently unable to perform due to closures related to COVID-19.
The hopelessness of this continuing situation for her musical colleagues is what inspired Gardot to embark upon such an ambitious project. All musicians who were chosen to be in the final project were paid a fee relative to a standard UK musicians studio wage.
Gardot explains, “This project is a stunning example of how music is a universal language and how our global awareness is greater than ever. Seeing what’s happening around the world, we cannot ignore our need for love and connection during this time. I am so happy to see the generous response displayed in the vast array of characters, from all corners of the globe, coming together to create this unique piece of music. It is a symbolic gesture for the way we can offer hope as we look towards the idea of creation in the future.”
The global cast of musicians were selected by her multi-Grammy award winning team: Producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock), conductor, arranger and composer Vince Mendoza (Bjork, Robbie Williams, Elvis Costello) and the legendary engineers, Al Schmitt and Steve Genewick (Frank Sinatra, Joao Gilberto, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney).
The accompanying video features selected musicians performing from their homes, and a montage of people who sent video portraits of themselves with messages of love from all over the globe.
“This video is a kind of a digital postcard, made possible by the generous contributions of musicians and people currently confined. My hope, is that this message will continue to find its way around the world and bring hope where hope is most needed to leave us all feeling more connected. My most heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in the making of this project.” she says.
Last week Melody Gardot was announced as the first artist through the doors of London’s Abbey Road Studio (as it re-opened for business after 10 weeks) for a socially-distanced album recording session. But first, ‘From Paris With Love’, inspired by a world in lockdown, is Melody’s timely message from where she is currently confined:
From Paris, with love.
Decca and Melody are waiving their profit on this track and will pay a minimum of £0.50 to the charity Protégé Ton Soignant for each permanent download sold in the UK and 0.20p for each permanent download sold outside of the UK or for every 150 streams.
