Switch on Hope
Energy Poverty Campaign - Launch event
Presenting two music videos made in collaboration with young New Brunswickers
Our ‘Switch on Hope’ Energy Poverty campaign launch on Saturday, Feb. 24 in Saint John brought out 30 community members to address energy poverty in our province, striving for a more fair and sustainable future together.
Kicking off our ‘Switch on Hope’ Energy Poverty Campaign, this special event told the unique story behind two videos showcasing the music created during Elliott’s From Harm to Harmony Residency and Mentorship Program last summer and shed light on the creative journey behind them.
That includes the Yeet Scream Animated Video, with animation created by Brian Finlay from Drawn to It Studio. Also premiering is the Already Here Video — a soul-stirring reflection on energy poverty’s impact on one’s sense of home.
We celebrated with the kids, heard about the process of creating music, and explored how community-based music initiatives can help engage people in the conversation around climate change. This event brought our community together to talk about energy poverty in our province to work towards a more equitable and sustainable future together.
Engaging Young Songwriters: Music and Climate change education combine!
Stephen Hero (Matt Elliot) 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.
Listen now!
Listen to Yeet Scream
A youth dance song about getting caught in a tornado
The first project involved collaboration with the Carleton Community Centre, focusing on children aged 8-12. Working closely with mentor Laura Barron, the team conducted three workshops, delving into discussions on climate change and energy poverty, developing song concepts, and recording at Monopolized Recording Studio. The resulting upbeat track centers around a playful narrative of a person running out of gas and 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 🙂
Listen to Already Here
A sad melancholy song about energy poverty
The second project, in collaboration with Interaction School of Performing Arts, targeted teens aged 14-15. The workshops fostered a collaborative approach, resulting in a reflective piece on energy poverty’s impact on one’s sense of home. The teens actively contributed to the songwriting, instrumental sections, and vocals during the recording session.
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.
Watch the videos!
'Switch on Hope' music video project
Featured artist — Saint John-based musician Stephen Hero
Stephen Hero (Matthew Elliott) has been creating music and performing on the east coast of Canada for nearly twenty years and has released a wide variety of music under different stage names, mainly being known for creating hip hop under the moniker Stephen Hero, and alternative folk music under the name David R. Elliott.
He is a producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist who has performed at events such as East Coast Music Week, Pop Montreal, 506 Festival and more, and has recently been working with Maestro Fresh Wes while also releasing poppy love songs as David R. Elliott and hardcore punk music with the band Crying Shames.
He has been working with the Conservation Council as a resident artist to engage with the community around climate change and energy poverty — issues about which he is very passionate. His work in general largely centers around issues of poverty and class inequality, and is always deeply rooted in his hometown and community.
Thank you to our wonderful funders
