Oil spills, deforestation, illegal mining: these extractive activities have been devastating the Amazon rainforest. “Earth,” part of the “Elements Suite” in Kuné’s new album Universal Echoes (LulaWorld Records), starts with a lamentation for the destruction of the world’s largest forest and its indigenous stewards.

Droughts caused by climate change are transforming once rich agricultural lands in the Middle East into desserts – which is addressed in this suite. Similarly, “Water” speaks to the drying up of rivers including the Euphrates, which crosses Turkey, Iraq and Syria. 

Born and raised in different parts of the world, the lives of the eleven members of Canada’s Global Orchestra, Kuné, have all been impacted by climate change. Whether it is displacement caused by wars or sickness from pollution, all of our lives have been touched by these crises. Making music together is how Kuné copes and responds to these calamities

Universal Echoes is a testament to the power of a pluralistic vision of the future, in which innovative, cross-cultural responses come from a deep commitment to traditional culture and an openness to dialogue and transformation.