Drawing us in with textured drums and a dynamic guitar soundscape, Rene Russell opens STAND for the Ocean with atmospheric vocals and thought-provoking prose as she sings, “It’s a critical time in our critical lives, who will we be? What will we say? When the children ask us why we let the ocean die? And if we don’t do now what they didn’t do then…”

We are immediately captivated by the dimensional sound design of the opus and Rene’s poignant and zeitgeist message. Taking care of the oceans is imperative due to their fundamental role in sustaining life on Earth. Oceans regulate the planet’s climate, produce oxygen, and provide a vital source of food and livelihood for millions of people worldwide.

However, rampant pollution, fishing, habitat destruction, and climate change are rapidly degrading marine ecosystems, endangering countless species and threatening the delicate balance of oceanic biodiversity. These destructive forces are already having catastrophic consequences for both marine life and human society.

We deeply appreciate Rene Russell‘s art as activism with the overarching, inspiring message of STAND for the Ocean. The composition showcases nothing short of instrumental mastery, and we are in awe of the harmonized vocals, accompanying the wisdom that Rene shares.

We learn that Rene Russell is a skilled 12-string guitarist who has honed her unique percussive Americana-Folk-Rock style since 1972. Hailing from South Carolina, she has captivated audiences across the United States for over 30 years with her energetic performances and original compositions. Recently, Rene embarked on a new chapter by relocating to the mountains of Western North Carolina, where she found inspiration and formed The HiHearts trio alongside Bridget Gossett and Heidi Holton.

As Rene sings, “it’s a critical time…”, and we can only hope that anyone privileged enough to listen to STAND for the Ocean takes action. Another useful documentary with the same message is Seaspiracy, which highlights marine life sentience and the atrocities of the fishing industry. We have added STAND for the Ocean to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream Rene Russell‘s wider discography, including The Key, and anticipate her upcoming album due in the Fall of this year!

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