There Are No Winners

What might happen if a nuclear war were to happen between Russia and United States? Who would survive?
One thing is clear – “There are no winners – only losers”

The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is a non-profit working to reduce global catastrophic and existential risk from powerful technologies.

Help FLI’s efforts. Visit: https://futureoflife.org/

 

Infinitesimally Insignificant - featuring Vladimir Velichkov - kaval & kaval percussion and James Hill - trumpet

As humans, we take ourselves far too seriously. Our world has always been divided by those who feel that their own voice is the only true voice. Monsters brutally rule others through ideologies, politics and money. Humans delude themselves of their own self-importance. Yet, “on the scale of worlds or galaxies - humans are inconsequential, a thin film of life on an obscure and solitary lump of rock and metal.” (Carl Sagan) Perhaps by understanding our universal insignificance, we can find the courage to more kindly behave towards one another, and to preserve and cherish our “pale blue dot” in the universe, the only home we’ve ever known.

 

90 Seconds to Midnight - Baila! (featuring James Hill )

The symbolic “Doomsday Clock” created 76 years ago by atomic scientists, including Albert Einstein, today stands the closest it has ever stood to humanity’s darkest hour.

We seem to have challenges unlike any other in our lifetimes.

This song is about different people’s reactions to a world in chaos. Some feel destruction is inevitable, so what’s left? ‘Let’s Dance!’ (“Baila”). Others are simply overwhelmed and just want to forget their worries. And still others are shouting out against injustice.

Listen to the clock. Wake up.

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Poem for the Shadow King -(featuring James Hill  on trumpet; Shane Beck- spoken word)

A story of love and loss and beauty.

Poem by Shane Beck, known as The Last American Poet, spoken words from the heart that never once let go.

 

She Doesn't Know Me Anymore (featuring James Hill )

           “Please remember the real me when I cannot remember you.”

This is the true story of a daughter and her mother who has been captured by dementia.

The disease might hide the person underneath, but there is still a person in there who needs love and attention. In those challenging and uncertain moments, the compassionate caregiver is an unsung hero who needs to have infinite understanding and courage without any expectations.

Those with dementia might forget us but we must remember and celebrate them through their journey. There’s no time to waste. We all know the last chapter in the book.

Composed and performed by Kluane Takhini       Featuring James Hill (Trumpet)

          Cover painting: An Nguyen  www.AnNguyenArtist.com

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And Then There Were None (featuring James Hill and Ivanov Basso)

Throughout human history more than 500,000,000 military men and women, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters have died from the direct results of battle and wartime actions. 
This does not include the war-induced consequences of epidemics, famines, atrocities, and genocide.

             What is it we’re waiting for?… Until there are none left to fight?

Composed and Performed by Kluane Takhini featuring:

     James Hill (trumpet)

      Ivanov Basso (orchestration)

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Peace Begins with a Smile

Lately,  it has been suggested that I am a “musical activist” since many of my compositions are focused on injustices and a world in crisis. With this song, I simply wanted to take a mental break and just write a pretty song with no intended cautionary message.

I hope it brings a smile to your face.

Composed and Performed by Kluane Takhini

        Featuring James Hill (trumpet)

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The View from Six Feet Under (feat James Hill-trumpet)

Recently, there was an untimely death in my close family.  (Is there such a thing as a ‘timely’ death?) 
I have never dealt well with the notion of end-of-life.   (Maybe, nobody does?)
When the urn/ casket is ceremoniously placed in the ground, does the spirit/ soul/ essence/ consciousness of that unique individual live on in some unique manifestation?   (I want to believe that is the case.)

Hence, the confusing musical/ visual message of this composition. 
If, in death, there is a transition to a new way of being, the interim unknown must be staggering.
I hope all our dear friends and family meet again, and share a beer, on the “other side”.

          Kluane: Ambient guitars
          James Hill: Trumpet

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Lungs of Mother Earth (Pulmões da Mãe Terra)  (featuring James Hill - trumpet)

The Amazon is home to three million species of plants and animals, and one million indigenous people. The Amazon basin contains 20 percent of the world’s flowing fresh water.

Today, we stand in a moment of destiny. The tipping point is now. The Amazon is under threat from deforestation and burning. Soon, half of the forest could give way to savanna, all in the name of economic development and greed. Fires are visible from space.

The moisture of the Amazon is critical for the world’s climate. If the Amazon is destroyed, it will be impossible to control global warming.

Together, we need the will and imagination to save the fragile Amazon.
 

We're Going To Get There  (featuring the vocals of Tony Mac and Nimiwari )

These turbulent times have divided both families and friends. The path ahead is not so clear. But, I have to believe that “We’re Going To Get There”… someday.

This is a follow-up to my song “When We Were Free”

Code Red  (featuring James Hemphill - trumpet?

The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, August 2021 states that; “It is unequivocal that humans are warming the planet. The warming we've experienced has made changes to our planetary support systems that are irreversible on timescales of centuries. The oceans will warm. Mountain and polar glaciers will melt. For much of this, there is no going back.” Scientists say a catastrophe can be avoided if the world acts fast. There is no time for delay and no room for excuses.
This is a “Code Red” for humanity.

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When We Were Free   (featuring Tony Mac - vocal)

This is a song of human oppression that has existed in our world since the beginning of time and unfortunately continues to exist to this very day.
Featuring the heartfelt vocals of Tony Mac.
Performed in a classic R&B/ Soul style to remind us all of simpler times.

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I Just Want to Hold Her  (featuring James Hill - trumpet):

This is a story of separation from family, friends and loved ones. As a result of lockdowns, closed borders, travel restrictions and even the tragic displacement of refugees around the world, grandpaw can’t see grandchild; brother can’t see sister; friend can’t share a coffee with friend. Those lost moments are gone forever. We can never turn back the clock.

Kluane: Celtic low whistle, guitars, keyboards, etc.

James Hill: Trumpet

Ryan Breau Libbey: Drums

Dedicated to Avery.

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To Catch Lighning In A Bottle (featuring James Hill - trumpet):
“To catch lightning in a bottle” means to accomplish a nearly impossible task. Originally, a 19th century reference to Benjamin Franklin’s kite experiment, capturing electricity from lightning with a kite and storing it in a jar. From a baby’s first steps to travelling into space, every day humans achieve the seemingly impossible. The song is intended to represent the enormous challenges that we face in today’s world. It may seem impossible, it may be unlikely... but maybe we can do the impossible and solve our world issues. Many thanks to James Hill for his remarkable trumpet playing.

 

Divided:

After enduring the USA election, it became painfully clear how ‘Divided’ humanity has become. It isn’t just about politics. It’s about race, culture, nationalism, tribalism, religion, economics, gender… xenophobia in general.   Throughout history, division has been with us, but it feels like it is spiralling out of control. What are we teaching our children? What are we leaving our children?

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We’re In This Together :

Music and Dance - the universal language spoken by all races, nationalities, ages, and genders! This song poses the question – what would happen if musicians from around the globe all played the same song of peace together? People of the world coming/ working together.
Join in as we hear from Asia, Mid East, Europe, Africa, Latin America and North America.

 

We Can Make It Through This:

At some point, everybody in the world, young and old, feels like: "I can't take it anymore". Often, all we need is a helping hand to know "We Can Make It Through This". That's the inspirational message of this song. A feel-good instrumental starting with acoustic contemplation leading to a full orchestral crescendo ending. At a more global level the song represents the inequity and injustice that people feel in their cirumstances of poverty, suppression or unjust circumstances that surround them. People need to believe that there can be a better world for them. This song wasn’t intentionally written with this in mind, but I suppose in these trying Covid and political times there HAS to be hope for a better way!!

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Prelude to Angel Eyes:

This is a light classical/ new age introduction to a pop ballad. I wrote this prelude for a song which I’m producing called “Angel Eyes”…. A sensitive message about the true love of a man for his ‘angel’.

Watch for the full pop version written by Dave Rome of the WobblyTones.

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Baila El Mestizo:
A 'nouveau' flamenco based song in remembrance of Dario Domingues - an adventurous musical spirit who played with unbridled passion. I first met Dario when he was busking in the streets of Ottawa, coercing his own handmade marionettes to dance to the whimsical wizardy of his panpipes. We immediately hit it off and for decades played music together around the world, in cathedrals, in concert halls, in converted hay silos, underground in the water reservoirs of Munich, on islands, in mountains, at festivals small and large....but still always found time to play a benefit concert for just causes. The pressures of the world took Dario from us way too early.

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A Land of Extremes:
This haunting melody reflects my travels to some of the furthermost parts of the Canadian Arctic. Towering mountains, ancient glaciers, untouched tundra. Awe-inspiring...the people and landscape send shivers through your bones.... how do you ever capture that feeling?

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Amhrán Pádraigín:
A gentle, melodic song about kindness and tenderness. Innocence and beauty.
Dedicated to the most warm-hearted, caring person I know.

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Näkhu chù: 
The First Nations Tutchone name for the Takhini River in the Yukon is ​Näkhu chù - “Takhini” is from a Tlingit word meaning "king salmon", a grandiose fish which may travel over 3,000 km to 'get home' and spawn. And that's what this song is about - going home. The song attempts to capture the mystery and majestic power of where I was born. In the words of Robert Service (a renowned Canadian writer known as the 'Bard of the Yukon') -"This is the law of the Yukon, that only the strong shall thrive; that surely the weak shall perish, and only the fit survive."

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All songs composed, performed and produced by Kluane

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