{"id":22696,"date":"2020-06-25T15:34:27","date_gmt":"2020-06-25T19:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/panm360.com\/?p=22696"},"modified":"2023-10-02T14:57:07","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T18:57:07","slug":"friends-of-the-feathered-the-benefit-album-a-guide-to-the-birdsong-of-mexico-central-america-the-caribbean","status":"publish","type":"dossiers","link":"https:\/\/panm360.com\/en\/dossiers-360\/friends-of-the-feathered-the-benefit-album-a-guide-to-the-birdsong-of-mexico-central-america-the-caribbean\/","title":{"rendered":"The benefit album \u201cA Guide to the Birdsong of Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Artwork: Scott Partridge<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based in Berlin, Shika Shika was founded is 2015 by footloose Englishman Robin Perkins, aka El B\u00faho, and ambulatory Argentine Agustin Rivaldo, aka Barrio Lindo. Their new 10-track compilation repeats the steps of 2015\u2019s A Guide to the Birdsong of South America<\/em><\/a>, overseen by Perkins and released on the label Rhythm & Roots as a fundraiser for endangered avian species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Shika Shika\u2019s follow-up A Guide to the Birdsong of Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean<\/em><\/a>, the purpose and principle remain intact, but the selection of musical acts is of course all new. The money raised through merchandising, record sales, and streaming royalties goes to Birds Caribbean, La Asociaci\u00f3n Ornitol\u00f3gica de Costa Rica, and Mexico\u2019s Fundacion TXORI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo be honest,\u201d says Perkins, reached a few weeks before the June launch date, \u201cI\u2019m feeling as excited about this one as I was for the first volume. So much work goes into the project, from identifying the birds, the organizations, and the artists, to finding the songs, getting the tracks, the artwork, the crowdfunding. To see it come to fruition and to see the reaction from people is something really special, and it motivates us to keep up work on the project.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Above: Black catbird by Scott Partridge; Garifuna Collective<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cMy son Alson and I are birders In Belize,\u201d says Al Obando of the celebrated Garifuna Collective, whose track \u201cBlack Catbird\u201d was the album\u2019s lead single. \u201cI\u2019ve been involved in music for over 20 years, as a sound engineer, producer, tour manager, guitarist and bass player. When I heard about the birdsong project, I felt a good vibe about it and so I decided to learn more. My friends Eli and Robin guided me through the process, and I was excited to do something musical with bird sounds. I also learnt that Belize was not included at first, and so I thought it would be right to defend all the birds and music of Belize.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obando explains the steps that led to the final track \u2013 a process of elimination, to save a species in the process of extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know about the black catbird before my involvement with the project.   Robin did some research and found three species of birds that are considered endangered in Belize. He asked me to choose one species, after listening to the different birdcalls. I liked the melodies of the black catbird, and so I chose that one.   I don\u2019t remember how the process began musically, but the black catbird calls just started to fit in as the arrangement continued through the song!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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