Kicking-off the announcement of new music with a stunning new music video for lead song “I’m On Your Side” filmed in 48 hours while in quarantine, musician and global artist Michael Franti shares his first new music of 2020 along with so many ways to celebrate community while physically distancing.
“There is no better time for music that helps us laugh, cry, rage, soothe, dance and sing through the sea of emotions boiling inside each of us. How beautiful that we can come together today of all days, on Earth Day. While we may be physically distancing, socially I love how we’re coming together,” he shares, announcing his forthcoming 11th studio album, Work Hard And Be Nice, the 17 song album that is set for release on June 19, 2020 on Thirty Tigers.
“I wrote ‘I’m On Your Side’ to share the message that despite the labels we put on each other to divide us into different groups and force us to choose sides, like political ideologies, gender, race, religion, sexuality and economic standing, we have a lot more in common than we do in difference. We all ‘stay awake at night wondering if we’ll be all right,’ or sit ‘…at the kitchen table counting up the bills to pay.’” Adding “And in each of those situations where we start to feel hopelessness creeping in, when we feel most alone in the battle, I want the listener to know, I feel it too. I’m there with you in spirit, without judgment, in solidarity and ‘I’m On Your Side.’”
“Before there was a song and an album by the title, I had a discussion with our band and crew that our mantra on tour was going to be ‘work hard and be nice to people.’ We then made a t-shirt, and it very quickly became our top-seller! It was so popular that I decided to write a song about the concept,” Franti reveals. “Every song on the album is about the power of optimism to get us through our darkest moments and find the light in our loves, lives and for the planet.”
“I collaborated with many different incredible songwriters and it was amazing to hear how all of them understood completely the idea of how important it is for people to have ease of heart in these troubled times,” he continues, “The need for emotions to be able to pass effortlessly as they arise. Music helps with that, and sometimes it brings out feelings we never even knew existed. As I set out making the record, I hoped that it would move people’s hearts and bodies and inspire people to take on the great challenges the world faces today, with courage, love and bold optimism!”
In continued celebration of Earth Day and the announcement of Work Hard And Be Nice, Franti will join Earth Day Live on Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. PT, and on Friday, April 24, he will join Together We Breathe Hope, a free virtual concert benefiting the National Jewish Health COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.
Work Hard And Be Nice track listing:
I Got You (Michael Franti & Chris Stevens)
Sun and Moon (Michael Franti & Chris Stevens)
Good Shit Happens (Michael Franti & Cappy Franti)
I Can Still Feel You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
Start Small Think Big (Michael Franti, Chris Stevens. Brett Warren & Brad Warren)
How We Living (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
Breaking Down The Door (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
The Friends Song (Michael Franti & Daniel Lubwama Kigozi)
Lay It All Down (Michael Franti, Chris Stevens & James Yeary)
P.S. I Love You (Michael Franti)
Work Hard And Be Nice (Michael Franti & Jonathan Singleton)
Is It Worth A Penny To You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
Walking Into The Sun (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
All My Friends (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
I’m On Your Side (Michael Franti & Sean McConnell)
Daycation (Michael Franti & Nathan Chapman)
Watching The World Go By With You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
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