I’m happy to announce the release  of the new single “Be On Our Way” today, the featured song from the Weinstein Company/MGM release Hurricane Season. The song pays homage to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina and the spirit of New Orleans in an inspiring “Curtis Mayfield meets Tupac-like” blend of classic soul music and socially conscious rap; performed by Grammy Award winner Van Hunt, New Orleans’ born rapper Supervision, Buku Wise and singers from the original Hidden Faces.

Like all the artists and musicians involved, New Orleans has always held a special place in my heart and ranked high on my list of musical influences. Moved by that and inspired by the movie and the true story upon which it was based, I tried to capture those feelings, the spirit of New Orleans and the underlying message, in an original song that fully supported the vision of the filmmaker, Tim Story. The result?  I’ll let you listen and judge for yourself.

Forest Whitaker’s Hurricane Season is based on the true and inspiring story of Al Collins (Whitaker), a high school coach,

Hurricane Season starring Forest Whitaker

who pulls together a group of high school basketball players – all left disenfranchised by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Against all odds, Colins learns and teaches the young men the meaning of perseverance and team spirit, leading them on to win the Louisiana State Championship. “Be On Our Way” underscores a pivotal montage through the challenges Al and his family must overcome, as their world gets washed away by the worse natural disaster in American history.

In addition to the creative opportunity, I saw the song and film as a chance to create an awareness campaign that could both remind millions of people of the struggle the people of New Orleans and the region are still going through as they try to rebuild their lives, and provide strength and inspiration for countless others around the world who are facing similar tragedies and challenges in their own lives.  Finally, I wanted to directly help the people of the Lower Night Ward, the area most affected by the catastrophic event and where much of the film was shot. To help me with this, I reached out to my friend at Apple iTunes Store to release and help promote the single and Brad Pitt’s Make it Right Foundation, to be the recipient of the proceeds.

Make It Right has been active rebuilding New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward. They are committed to building 150 sustainable, affordable and high quality homes,  while preserving the spirit of the community’s culture. Brad Pitt, Make It Right’s Founder, hopes that this project will be a catalyst for recovery and redevelopment throughout the Lower Ninth Ward and across the city of New Orleans. Through EarthTones, we are donating 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of “Be On Our Way” to Make It Right.

Be sure to check out the song and tell your friends about the campaign.  ”Be On Our Way” is exclusively available at the Apple iTunes Store, starting today.

For more info about the song and campaign, go to http://earthtones.org/projects/be-on-our-way/

For more information on the Make It Right Foundation, please visit www.MakeItRightnola.com.

Musician and host of the show Spectacle on the Sundance Channel

During the Toronto production phase of Beat the World, I had the opportunity to be part of the live taping for this season’s premier of Spectacle – a music and interview show hosted by Elvis Costello. Because of the guests, and the scope of their positive influence in the world – both through their music and their socially conscious ventures, I thought it was appropriate to plug the show and participants here.

Not only was it a truly inspiring show because of the tremendous talent and legacy of host Elvis Costello, his house band – the Imposters, and renown guests Bono and The Edge, but because of the intimacy of the performance, the depth of the interview and the incredible music shared. Bono literally grew up admiring Elvis Costello. The two of them traveled so many of the same circles and carried some much mutual respect, that the interview and performances had a rare level of comfort and personal insight. They talked about old times and shared dreams and, with the backing of the original Imposters, performed each others’ songs – nearly all of them hits. It was a privileged and inspiring experience for all of us lucky enough to be in the audience at the Masonic Temple that night. If you think I am just biased because we are fellow Irishmen, I suggest you tune into the show on The Sundance Channel this Wednesday, Dec 9th, and see for yourself.

To cover all the humanitarian efforts of Bono would require far more than a blog. Dubbed “the face of fusion philanthropy”

Philanthropist & Singer for U2, Bono

by the New York Times, Bono has become one of the world’s best-known philanthropic performers. From Amnesty International, Keep a Child Alive and Greenpeace through to DATA, ONE, (Product (RED) and the Chernobyl Childrens Project, Bono and U2 have used benefit concerts, songwriting, public campaigning, special visits and fund-raising to promote a range of charities and activist communities worldwide, throwing a spotlight on the work of groups who are trying to make the world a better place.You can read more about his remarkable work at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bono#Humanitarian_work

Humanitarian and guitarist for U2

The Edge is currently focusing his humanitarian efforts on Music Rising, a charity that provides musical instruments to those who lost instruments in Hurricane Katrina. He also serves on the board of the Angiogenesis Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving global health by advancing angiogenesis-based medicine, diets, and lifestyle.

Costello sits of the Advisory Comittee of the Board of Directors of the Jazz Foundation of America, and has been a featured performer in their annual benefit A Great Night in Harlem since 2006. Costello has donated his time working with the Jazz Foundation of America to save the homes and the lives of America’s elderly jazz and blues musicians including musicians that survived Hurricane Katrina.

It is really inspiring to follow such amazing talents who care as much about the state of the world as they do about their own careers.

December 8th marks the long awaited release of the film Hurricane Season and the featured single, “Be On Our Way”.  Hurricane Season, directed by Tim Story (Barbershop, Fantastic Four), stars Forest Whitaker, Isaiah Washington, Courtney B. Vance, and rappers Bow Wow and Lil’ Wayne. The film is based on the true and inspiring story of Al Collins (Whitaker), a high school basketball coach, who pulls together an unlikely group of players – all left disenfranchised by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Against all odds, the young men learn the true meaning of survival and team spirit that carries them on to win the State Championship.

When I first learned director Tim Story and the Weinstein Company were making Hurricane Season, I saw an opportunity to create both the song, “Be On Our Way”, and a campaign that could help people of the Lower Ninth Ward, who are still trying to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the worst natural disaster in American history. I brought together a group of like-minded artists (including Grammy Award winner Van Hunt, New Orleans’ born rapper Supervision, Buku Wise and singers from the original Hidden Faces) to perform on the song.

It was a great experience working with the filmmakers, the Weinstein Co and the artists and I am excited that the song will finally be realeased as an iTunes exclusive single and serve as fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Katrina. I hope you will download a copy of the song, check out the film and tell all your friends.