Social Media Group Spawns Ocean Conservation Album

Ukulele Sirens: Songs for the Sea, an ambitious international collaboration ocean conservation album project started by a Facebook group,

Ukulele Sirens: Songs for the Sea brings 15 inspiring Ukulele Sirens’ voices and their unique songs together in a collaborative album for social change. Songs for the Sea is available for purchase now through the Ukulele Sirens website. All proceeds from the album benefit The Takuvik Research Institute’s Takuvik Ocean Ecosystems Program for research and protection of the ocean.

Keeping our ocean blue is the ultimate priority for these singer/songwriters, who hope to inspire change through music, art, poetry, photography and more.

Ukulele Sirens – a like-minded Facebook Group

The idea for the Songs for the Sea Project came from Canadian singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mia Lotus. She, along with the other musicians on the album were connected through a Facebook ukulele group (which has over 11,000 members from around the world). Each musician had posted music videos on the page, which gave Mia the idea of collaborating on a project together. And so it began. Lead Siren Mia began reaching out to members of the group on Facebook to learn of their interest in the project. The rest is history.

“It was really an awesome idea, and when she reached out to me on facebook a year ago, I immediately said yes! I thought the whole thing was so cool, and when we decided to make it a nonprofit project, it all clicked. Since the ukulele is often associated with the ocean and Hawaii it all came together in a really, beautifully metaphoric way.” – Maiah Wynne, Ukelele Siren based in Portland, OR

Nineteen-year-old Maiah Wynne is taking the world by tidal wave.

SOCIALLY SPARKED NEWS: Why did you get involved with the Songs for the Sea project?

Maiah: The biggest and overarching reason was the idea that we were making something that would impact the world. We definitely aren’t the dedicated scientists who are doing the research out in the freezing cold, because those people are the true heroes of this story. But, we are the people standing behind those activists and scientists saying, ‘what you are doing is amazing, we support you – how can we help’?

SOCIALLY SPARKED NEWS: How big of an impact do you feel you will make?

Maiah: I think the more people we can get to support these organizations, the bigger impact they will be able to make, and everyone who contributes will be able to say that they helped bring some hope back into the world.

SOCIALLY SPARKED NEWS: Where did your passion for this cause stem from?

Maiah: Having spent my later teenage years in Montana, I was surrounded by nature. I feel deeply connected to it, and I feel this overwhelming responsibility to protect it. As a human being, I also feel connected to all the other people on this planet, and consequentially feel a collective shame for the damage we have done to this planet. I want to do something good. I want to make a positive difference. With this project, I can finally give something back.

SOCIALLY SPARKED NEWS: Tell our readers a little bit about your song contribution to the album, A Sirens Song?

Maiah: I wanted this song to emulate the feeling of being surrounded by water, beautiful fish, coral, and rocks. I wanted to recreate the feeling I had when a family of deer looked into my eyes from three feet away – the feeling of hiking to the top of a mountain, surrounded by trees and plants and earth. I wanted it to remind whoever was listening of their most meaningful moment in nature. And I wanted it to feel magical, beautiful and free.

SOCIALLY SPARKED NEWS: What’s the story behind the lyric video’s exquisite photos?

Maiah: I reached out to wild life photographer Garry Henkel, who’s photos I had seen on instagram. His pictures are absolutely stunning and include some incredible snap shots of whales, bears, eagles, and other wildlife. I asked if he would be interested in contributing some of his photos to the lyric video and not only did he say yes, he contributed all the photos and video for free. Garry is a strong wildlife advocate himself. He connected with the message behind the song and project, and was happy to help contribute to something that was helping the ocean.

SOCIALLY SPARKED NEWS: Your publicist from Women’s Crush* says that you and Garry forged an incredible connection as a result of your reaching out.

Maiah: Yes. He was kind and generous from the very first time I talked to him on the phone. For a living, he takes people on wildlife adventure tours through Canada to see whales and other incredible animals in the area. I am planning on taking a trip up there soon to go sing for the whales! Much like the other sirens on this project, we became friends through our shared love of music, nature and desire to make a difference.

SOCIALLY SPARKED NEWS: You seem very astute for only being 19. Tell us a bit more about your thoughts on ocean conservation.

Maiah: The Oceans contain 99% of the living space on Earth, and less than 5% of the world’s oceans have been explored. There is so much we still don’t know about our planet, yet we as people are creating a lasting negative impact on the ocean through oil and chemical spills, garbage and plastic contamination, and our influence on climate change. Knowledge is the key to protecting life on this planet (including our own), and by supporting research organizations dedicated to these causes, we can make a difference.

SOCIALLY SPARKED NEWS: Tell our readers the best way to contribute to the project?

Most of the members of the Ukulele Group did not know each other before this project.

Sometimes, it simply takes a social media group to build an international advocacy campaign to affect change. Special interest social media groups like Ukulele Sirens re-enforce the power technology has on the way we collaborate to advocate. The future is now. – Abbe is #SociallySparked. Tweet me @sosparkednews and @asparks01.

To learn more about Ukelele Sirens: Songs for the Sea Project; the artists on the album, the poetry and photography, visit the website @ www.songsforthesea.weebly.com

*Women’s Crush Music is an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for rising female artists and connecting them to industry professionals and collaborators by hosting showcases, offering workshops & more.