The Green Children – Changing Lives Through Music

The Green Children, aka musicians Milla Sunde and Tom ‘Marlow’ Bevan, recently took time out to speak to Live4ever about their unique approach to music that has helped to change the lives of some of the poorest people on the planet. With a burning desire to make a difference to the world through their music, The Green Children are addressing some of the most important issues of our time. In an age where lots of acts talk the talk, you’re about to find out The Green Children are undoubtedly a band that walks the walk.

Live4ever: Firstly, hi there. Thanks for taking the time out to speak to our webzine. You must be feeling on top of the world after the response to your debut single?

Green Children: We’re really happy with how things are going so far. People have responded with great positivity, which is what the song’s all about.

How did you meet and when did you first discover your mutual desires to make a difference to the world through music?

We met at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, a school jointly established by Sir Paul McCartney. One of our first classes was songwriting and as fate would have it we partnered to write a song for our very first assignment.

After producing a track we both loved, it was clear we had instant chemistry and have been writing together ever since. Both of us are pretty emotional people, sensitive to world issues, so from a young age we’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out ways we could make a small difference. It comes quite naturally for us to want to write music with depth and in some cases directly related to things we support.

Music is such a universal language that can inspire so many that we love using it for this greater purpose when possible.

Are there any initiatives you put in to practice whilst on tour to ensure the touring is as green as possible?

Obviously the necessary traveling related to touring is the most difficult thing to address, being a duo we often perform without the need for other musicians, so that helps a little!

We try to keep up our regular routines when traveling, making sure we have shopping bags with us, a coffee thermos, anything to try and avoid waste.

Are there plans to return to the UK for a tour?

We really hope so, when our album is released at the beginning of next year we will definitely plan to visit the UK for some shows.

You filmed the video for debut single ‘Hear Me Now’ in Bangladesh. Did the experience make you even more determined to make a difference there with The Green Children?

Well, before we made the video we’d already visited Bangladesh a few times. These trips had inspired us so much that we felt compelled to get more involved and decided to set up The Green Children Foundation.

The video was made to show the world how Grameen Bank (known as the bank for the poor) has helped over 7 million women escape poverty with the use of small loans. It’s a very empowering thing to see the poor bring themselves out of poverty.

We believe in focusing on positive solutions and our experiences have definitely made us determined to continue doing what we can.

…and while out there did you get the chance to visit the new Eye Care hospital the Green Children Foundation helped to open?

The video was actually made back in 2006 and was released in Norway whilst Prof. Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. During this time we sold an EP throughout Norway, raising funds that went towards the new Eye Care hospital. We opened the hospital together with Prof. Yunus in May 2008.

The ‘Hear Me Now’ single was released in August. Is an album in the works, and if so when can fans expect to be able to get hold of it?

First, we are releasing 3 more singles from the album, all of which will have music videos. These will be quite different from ‘Hear Me Now’, focusing on The Green Children ‘legend’ that we have inherited! The album is then planned for release at the very beginning of 2010.

You’ve been working with Nobel prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus. How did you first come in contact with him?

We met Prof. Yunus during our first trip to Bangladesh. We had traveled there to see the amazing work of his Grameen Bank and felt very fortunate to spend some time with him.

It must be hugely inspirational to work with such a well-renowned humanatarian?

He is an incredible man, the likes of which we have never met before. In this world, there are few heros, but he is certainly one of them. He has amazing belief in people and has succeeded where everyone said he would fail, believing in the ability of the poor and dedicating his life to it.

You recently left a major label, calling it a ‘terrible experience’.

How difficult has it been to get your views and unique ideas for the band accepted in the music industry?

Like most bands, we thought signing with a major label would be a big step in the right direction, but how wrong we were. The short story is they did nothing, and nothing happened.

We received great enthusiasm from people on the ‘music’ side of the industry, attracting some of the worlds biggest producers and writers. Whenever we met people, they seemed very excited about working on something new. We found the whole experience ridiculously unprofessional.

Your royalties help to support a ‘micro-lending’ project in India that was developed by Professor Yunus. Could you explain to our readers how the project works, and how it has helped to lift poor families out of poverty?

It’s a very simple system. In many poor countries, people do not have access to any kind of finance. Micro-finance provides small loans to these people so they can take the first step on the ladder away from poverty. It’s about creating a long term solution, allowing people to take charge of their lives. Poor people have ability, but they need opportunity.

The repayment rate at Grameen Bank is almost 99%, and almost all the borrowers are women, because they have been so successful at managing their small businesses, making money and then taking bigger and bigger loans.

The project in India is a replication of Grameen Bank, established by Whole Planet Foundation, which we are supporting with 50% of our iTunes single sales.

What other projects is the Green Children foundation currently supporting?

The hospital was our first big project, which is now fully operational and is self sustaining so doesn’t require continual donations. We’re working on projects for orphans but haven’t really started promoting that yet. We are investigating a lot of ideas for the future but right now the project in India is what we’re focusing on.

Apart from buying your music through iTunes, are there any other ways fans can help the foundation?

People are welcome to make donations through our foundation website, 100% of donations go directly to our cause, nothing is used for administration and other costs.

How can our readers become a ‘Green Child’?

Simply sign up on either of our websites, http://www.thegreenchildren.com or http://www.thegreenchildren.org

and finally a couple of our ‘Hot Desk’ questions…

Would you ever “sell out” if it would help your cause?

We are first and foremost artists and believe in the power and importance of music in making a difference, so it would be hard to compromise that for any reason. People are so cynical these days, I think any quick success from selling out would hurt our cause in the long term.

If you had to pick a new band member and your choices were between Noel or Liam Gallagher, who would you pick?

It would have to be Noel.

Thanks Guys and good luck with your great cause!

Here’s a recent live performance from Los Angeles dedicated to the millions of women escaping poverty using micro-loans:

(Give it Up , The Green Children)