KanOwurmz song of Hope for British Red Cross

3 July 2020: York-based band Kanowurmz have released an original single entitled "Hope (Lockdown Session)" to raise money for the British Red Cross, whose volunteers are providing vital support to vulnerable people during the coronavirus pandemic.  All proceeds from download sales and donations will go to the charity's UK Coronavirus Response Appeal.

How it all happened …

Shortly after KanOwurmz formed in 2015, keyboard player Giordano Girotto dusted off an instrumental piece he had written years earlier under the working title "Hope" and shared it with the rest of the band. Songwriter Debbie Elliott then locked herself away with copious cups of tea to add the lyrics and melody line and, soon afterwards, the band began performing the song live at venues across Yorkshire.

In April 2020, three weeks into the coronavirus lockdown, the band members decided to put a song together to raise money for a UK charity. The British Red Cross was chosen because of the work it was doing to help those in need during the crisis, including working with food banks and teaming up with supermarkets to get surplus stock to those who need it most. "Hope" was the perfect song choice, but Debbie changed the lyrics to reflect the difficult situation everyone was facing, while injecting a sense of positivity and gratitude at the same time. 

Initially, everyone thought it would take just a few days to get the song ready for release, but how wrong they were! The project turned out to be a huge learning curve for all five band members - recording individually at home with click tracks (the band still haven't met since their last gig in March), learning how to use the recording software (with huge compatibility issues), trying to help each other over the phone and WhatsApp, and mixing and producing the final version. Of course, putting a slideshow video together for the first time was another story, but it's now ready for release on YouTube and includes images of York's empty city centre during the early stages of lockdown. Every ounce of effort has been worth it and, all things considered, everyone involved is quite amazed by the result! The band had been looking forward to playing a string of gigs this year in and around York, including the Rockin’ all over the Wold festival in Easingwold on 11 July, but working on a project like this has allowed them to stay creative and share something new with their followers, old and new.

"Hope (Lockdown Session)" is available to download from 3 July 2020:
Amazon, Anghami, Apple Music, MediaNet, Deezer, Google Play, iHeartRadio, ClaroMusica, iTunes, KKBox, Napster, NetEase, Pandora, Saavn, Spotify, Tidal and Tik Tok/Resso.

Here is the latest list of streaming/download links:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kanowurmz/hope-lockdown-session

The YouTube video is available at:
https://youtu.be/MGn0oBOxHG4

All donations to the British Red Cross will be gratefully received!

Thank you so much for your support and we hope you enjoy listening. And if you'd like to sing along, the lyrics are available from:
www.kanowurmz.com

Please like us on Facebook by searching for @kanowurmz
Thank you!

The British Red Cross

For over 150 years, the British Red Cross has supported people in the UK in times of crisis. The ongoing, ever-changing situation concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is no exception. Our network of incredible staff and volunteers means we are uniquely placed to reach people in fearful, uncertain times.

But it’s the generosity of our supporters that enables our work to happen quickly and efficiently. We rely on your support to keep us going. With your help, we’ll continue to provide vital humanitarian, individual support for the most vulnerable, and those who fall through the gaps.

There is someone who needs you today. Your donation can change their life. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us.