Rhythms Del Mundo – an emblematic music project benefitting the environmental charity Artists Project Earth (APE) – announced that Coldplay Sting, and U2 are rejoining the important cause with re-imagined Cuban arrangements of their hits, including the British band’s hit “Clocks.” The original release was in 2009 – but this is the first time it’s available via streaming platforms.
“The original idea of fusing beautiful, timeless Cuban music and Western musicians was created by Kenny Young, Ron Oehl and my brother Christian at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005,” co-producer Frank Berman of Berman Brothers told Remezcla over email. “Soon after, the charity APE was exclusively founded for this project and the team went on a trip to Havana to record all music with an All Star Cast of Cuban musicians, including members of the Buena Vista Social Club.”
The EP features Coldplay’s “Clocks,” U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” and Sting’s “Fragilidad,” all with a Cuban twist recorded in Havana, Cuba, by a stellar lineup of musicians from the island. The musicians include Barbarito Torres, Amadito Valdés, Virgilio Valdés, Frank Rubio, and more musical professionals. The EP also features tracks with Buena Vista Social Club’s Cuban singers Omara Portuondo and the late Ibrahim Ferrer.
The iconic bands were re-chosen based on the original album’s most popular arrangements. “Coldplay, Sting, and U2 were the most requested and successful songs on the original album and wonderfully showcased the concept merging these two worlds,” Berman said. “For us, it was very important to also feature the most legendary Cuban singers, Omara Portuondo and Ibrahim Ferrer on our re-release. We recorded Omara in Havana and Ibrahim in Barcelona, just a few days before he sadly passed away.”
The re-release is more than just reimagined hits, though. Its profits aim to support worldwide projects and initiatives to combat climate change. Their projects include two causes in Latin America.
According to the May East, an APE trustee, the organization has been instrumental in supporting the indigenous Sateré Mawé community in Brazil. They also support Brazil’s Pantanal by helping the Guató people preserve native seeds and by rebuilding their homes in sustainable ways. APE is also planning to expand to help other communities in South America.
Check out the EP’s re-release below.