As we’ve all expressed, this Earth Day hits a bit differently than it usually does. This time last year I was wrapping up the first iteration of Trash Music and actively looking for ways to continue engaging my community in fighting for climate justice. Today, we’re mostly inside as we are doing the best we can to keep ourselves and inconsequentially, the Earth, healthy. It’s a weird, but important thing to think about as we continue to honor and celebrate the Earth.

I think you know by now that I’m a musician and in everything that I do I look to myself and other musicians to continue to engage with topics outside of music by engaging with music. I started Trash Music because I wanted to use music as a means to creating and having conversations about music, sustainability, and climate / environmental justice. It was my way of wanting to connect and think deeply about these topics. This isn’t the only way though. There are numerous ways that you can engage whether you’re an artist or not with these topics. You can support financially or volunteer with an organization that you feel does good earth work. You can choose to research and learn more about alternative products that we can use for the environment. You can choose to listen to podcasts and read articles and statements from BIPOC climate activists who are doing some of the most important work when it comes to how capitalism and racism deeply impact people who look like me. There is not right or wrong way to do this and the best way is for you to do what feels good for you and where you are at this very moment.

It’s been 50 years since we started celebrating this day and our Earth. And sure, nothing is perfect and in some regards we’ve caused and reeked even more havoc on things, but on today and on more days, I’m looking for ways that we can continue to celebrate the successes and to earnestly build on those as a way forward.

-Ciyadh

P.S. Watch THIS!