B.C. musicians give away songs to help Haiti

The heartbreaking images from Haiti’s earthquake have prompted some of B.C.’s top up-and-coming music artists to give away their songs to help raise donations to the Red Cross.

On Tuesday, artists such as Adaline will place their music on the The Province’s Playlist website, which will offer not only a way to download the free music, but also a means to donate directly to the Red Cross.

That way, the financial help will get to the charitable organization immediately.

“It is an opportunity as an artist to feel that we are giving something, too,” said Adaline, whose intimate but intense voice, compositions and vulnerable lyrics have been seducing audiences since 2005.

“A lot of artists, like me, don’t have a lot of money because we spend so much money creating what we do. But if I can give a few of my songs to create an incentive for someone who has the money to give then, of course, I want to do that.”

To access the Playlist, go to theprovince.com/entertainment/music/downloads and look for the link to Project Haiti.

On Tuesday, 10 songs will be put on the Playlist for Project Haiti, with more to follow in the coming days.

The artists include Mother Mother and Daniel Wesley, who has composed a song in wake of the tragedy.

“When the earthquake happened, I think we all felt we needed to do something,” said Bob D’Eith, executive director with Music B.C.

“People will go right to download a song and donate to the Red Cross right away, so it will be immediate. There is no waiting around. There is no middle man. There is no retailer,” said D’Eith.

The Province Playlist was the brainchild of Vernon snackfood entrepreneur Barry Stecyk who is now planning on using his HevyD’s Old Fashioned Kettle Korn to raise money for Haiti, too.

Part of the proceeds of every sale of the popcorn through Save-on-Foods will go to Project Haiti. He also uses the popcorn to promote the artists on the Playlist.

“Everyone is really stoked about this,” he said.

“There are four companies (Canwest, Heavy’d popcorn, Music B.C., and Save-on-Foods) that came together in a matter of five hours to create Project Haiti.

Said Save-on-Foods spokeswoman Julie Dickson Olmstead: “We’ve also launched our Save-On-More charitable points drive for Disaster Relief in all our store locations in B.C. and Alberta, so for every 1,000 Save-On-More points donated, $2 will go to Haitian Relief via the Red Cross.

“We’re glad we could help.”

Word of Project Haiti is already spreading into the business scene in Vancouver.

Restaurant owner Jose Madappilly of Salam Bombay is giving $5 for every customer who comes into his Alberni and Burrard Street eatery to the Red Cross through Project Haiti.

“I think everybody has to join together,” he said.

“We should all contribute and I wish many other restaurants join and do the same.”