With the United Nations ringing alarm bells about humanity on the brink due to climate change, it seems somehow fitting that Halifax composer and cellist India Gailey will present Vapor Ingot as part of Alkali Collective’s upcoming concert, Networks.
I wouldn’t say all of it, but definitely a lot of my compositions have been inspired by climate change and environmental issues. – India Gailey
“I wrote it based on thinking about the process of condensation and the particulate pollution in the atmosphere,” she explains. “The particulate pollution has a big effect on weather patterns and the way that we experience precipitation this world.”
It is a theme that Gailey says continues to ignite her musical imagination. “I wouldn’t say all of it, but definitely a lot of my compositions have been inspired by climate change and environmental issues,” she says.
Describing her music as whimsical, playful, impressionistic, and often minimalist, this will be the second outing for Gailey’s Vapor Ingot. Her work will be performed alongside other works from composer, violinist, and multimedia artist Hsiu-Ping (Patrick) Wu and multidisciplinary artist Andrew Noseworthy. The three are the winners of Alkali Collective’s Call for Scores program.
“They wanted to support emerging artists and see what was out there that they might not have been aware of,” says Gailey of the program. “There is this more standard catalogue of contemporary music, and they wanted to break out of that and see what was new that they could present and who they could support.”
In addition to the works from the trio of emerging artists, the concert will also feature works from established Canadian composers Ann Southam, Derek Charke and Jared Miller.
While a prior engagement will prevent Gailey from attending the Halifax concert in person, she will tune in online from Montreal, where she is working with pianist and composer Edward Enman on his new album Breathe In, Breathe Out.
“He’s also from Nova Scotia originally, and he’s flying me over there, and we’re going to record his piano and cello compositions for an album that will be released in a few months,” she says.
And while she finds work with her friend Enman on his album, Gailey is also getting her sophomore recording to you through ready for release in May on Redshift Records. Consisting primarily of pieces from other composers, it will include the title track by Gailey.
“I wanted to create something that was kind of cohesive but coming from many different voices,” she says of the upcoming album. “It’s very personal in a way, but I also just wanted to share some music that I felt was beautiful and hope they would touch people’s hearts.”
While fans will need to wait for her new album to drop in mid-May, they will have an opportunity to experience her work as part of Networks.
Alkali Collective presents Networks online and in person at the Peggy Corkum Music Room in Halifax on March 12. Visit alkalicollective.com for tickets and more information.