Interview with Salem on the Risan Project – The International Multi-Media ECO Tour

We had a great opportunity to talk with Todd Anders, the lead singer and drummer from the band Salem, based out of Boulder CO. Salem is currently on the Risan Project Tour.

Todd, can you give us a little background about the tour and what the main message of the tour is?

The Risan Project utilizes multi-media events to raise awareness of climate change and the praxis of alternative lifestyles. The message of the tour is derived from the belief that environmental policy must reflect the acknowledgement of a global climate crisis. Affecting policy decisions begins with knowledge and awareness of the current state of the environment and alternatives to current systems of energy production and usage.

Who are some of the people behind the Risan Project?

The 2009-2010 tour features Boulder’s conscious funk, jazz hip-hop band, Salem; film premiers with Sweetgrass Productions’ latest film,“Signatures”; the film-short“Generations” produced by Protect Our Winters/Northface/Teton Gravity Research, the Kyrgzystan Plan and appearances with presenters from Al Gore’s Climate Project and Olympic athletes from the Climate Project “Play It Cool” Campaign. The Risan Project is also working towards powering select events with solar and wind-powered sound systems with Atlanta’s Tree Power & Sound and San Diego’s Sustainable Waves.

What were some of the reasons you wanted Salem to become part of this tour?

I think that combining live music with films and presentations can bring a message to a wide audience while still being entertaining. Salem lyrics address themes of social justice and I have been involved in various awareness tours such as Bono’s One Campaign in Philadelphia. I have found that we can bring these themes to other social forums.

If someone was interested in coming to a Risan Project Tour show, what can they expect to see?

They would typically see films, a speaker or presentation and live music.

You and the band have been on tour for a couple months now, can you give us some of the places you have been recently and how the fans have responded to you and the Risan Project Tour message?

We toured to Park City, Utah and thoughout Colorado; through Wyoming and Montana and a 2 week British Columbia and Alberta tour along the Powder Highway. We just returned from a tour to Washington state with shows at clubs, breweries, wineries and a stop in Sun Valley on the way back to Boulder.

The reception has been great; “Signatures” is an acclaimed ski film and the response has been positive. The “Generations” film short is also a good merging of climate knowledge and perspectives of regular folks and pro skiers that carries the message well. The Canadian tour included speakers from the Canadian Climate Project as well as Gold Olympian, Adam Kreek.

What are some of the alternative ways of transportation people can use that can help slow down the effects of the ice cap and glacier melting?

Continued at: http://beatplay.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/interview-with-salem/