© Conservation Council of New Brunswick 2024
From Harm to Harmony
Featured Artist
Saint John based artist — Stephen Hero
Stephen Hero (Matthew Elliot) makes raw, working-class hip hop from Canada’s east coast. His style is influenced by alt-rap legends like Kool Keith and MF DOOM, with a strong penchant for the relaxed and joyous experimentation of groups like De La Soul and Beastie Boys, but with a contemporary feel.
Throughout his career, his art has become more focused on issues of class disparity as he’s moved deeper into telling his own story and the story of his community. Although he likes to keep humor and levity in his music, he never strays too far from his working-class roots, exploring the microscopic details of economic struggle while also being an active member of his community through volunteering with local organizations and organizing food bank fundraisers.
Listen to some inspiring music by Stephen Hero:
Listen to Already Here
A sad melancholy song about energy poverty
Lyrics — Already Here
The house feels cold and dead
Fiery thoughts have filled my head
Candles go out without a shout
Wouldn’t expect that in our house
Fingers and toes have froze
I don’t have any friends or foes
To call my own
How am I supposed to see anything
When everything doesn’t go to plan
Don’t know where I am supposed to go
Who I am, or if I have a home
Covers are gone up to my head
Blur my thoughts and turn them red
Kind of wish they would have left
I said, I said
How am I supposed to see anything
When everything doesn’t go to plan
Don’t know where I am supposed to go
Who I am, or if I have a home
I can’t go home, I’m already here,
Away from everything, cause I can’t go.
Listen to Yeet Scream
A youth dance song about getting caught in a tornado
Lyrics — Yeet Scream
Give me energy (x4)
Driving with the windows down, the radio is the only sound
Driving with the windows down, the radio is the only sound
The wind’s in my hair, broke down but I just don’t care
Stuck on the road, need to get home (x4)
Give me energy (x4)
Driving with the windows down , the radio is the only sound
The wind feels faster and faster
Driving with the windows down, the radio is the only sound
The wind feels faster and faster
Stuck on the road, need to get home
Stuck on the road, need to get home
Something crazy, what could save me (x4)
Stuck on the road, need to get home
Stuck on the road, need to get home
Give me energy (x4)
SCREAMING 🙂
Watch the videos
'Switch on Hope' music video project
4 Videos
Stephen Hero worked with two groups of young talents—one at the Carleton Community Centre (CCC) and the other at the Interaction School of Performing Arts.
Each group embarked on a creative journey to compose songs that tackle the critical issues of energy poverty and climate change. Their efforts led them to a professional recording studio, where these budding musicians transformed their ideas into recorded masterpieces.
These projects aimed to create a sense of community and start conversations about the pressing issue of energy poverty in our province. By coming together, we hope we can pave the way toward a more just and sustainable future.