I’ve lived in Australia for 15 years now.
It is a truly beautiful country. A country of stunning beaches, sprawling desert, ancient forests and stark mountains.
A sunburnt country.
It is also home to a diverse range of unique wildlife, adored around the world as characteristically Australian.
I quickly learned that living in Australia meant each summer would bring with it the threat and fear of bush fires - of homes lost, wildlife lost and, tragically, lives lost.
I was here in 2009 when the Black Saturday fires tore through the State of Victoria. It felt like nothing I had experienced, seen from afar through a TV screen but terrifying nonetheless.
I don’t live in the regional areas of Australia, I live in Melbourne. My house isn’t in danger during the fire season, nor is my personal safety.
This summer the bush fires have come early, with a fury and a hunger that can scarcely be believed.
If you own a television, a smartphone or computer then you have undoubtedly seen the horror unfolding.
You probably also know that the bushfire season is just starting.
Today I learned that a billion animals are estimated to have died because of these fires. A billion.
8.4 million hectares of land have been burned. Twenty five people have died. Nearly two thousand homes have been destroyed. So far.
The bushfire season is just starting.
My house isn’t in danger. My life isn’t in danger.
But I’ve watched, like many others here and across the globe, as the tragedy has grown, developed and rapidly increased in scale.
Apocalyptic images are now common, scenes that none of us would want anybody to endure, much less experience ourselves.
There is an anxiety that comes from the feeling of helplessness in this situation.
What can I do while the country burns? I’m not a firefighter, I don’t have any skills that can help the people on the frontline, or those in communities now ravaged.
But I can give. I can give money. I can help those organisations that care for injured animals. I can help those organisations that help re-establish native wildlife populations.
I can help fund the bravest of Australians who willingly go to face down and fight a threat so ferocious and terrifying. Perhaps I’ll help fund them to have the necessary equipment to do this job…
My house isn't in danger but my home, Australia, is. Now and forever more it seems.
Last year I produced music for a game titled Unfamiliar.
The game launched late in 2019 with the soundtrack planned to be released early 2020. Well here we are.
Until the end of February 2020 all proceeds from sales of the soundtrack will be donated 50/50 to two organisations:
WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service)
NSW Rural Fire Service
The Unfamiliar soundtrack can be purchased from two places:
Bandcamp
Steam - (note that you can only buy the OST on Steam if you already own the game Unfamiliar). At this point the soundtrack is still going through approval processes for launch on Steam. I will update this post with the link as soon as it’s available.
Mana Tea Games, the developer of Unfamiliar are also donating all sale proceeds of the game until the end of February to the two organisations mentioned above. You can find the game here.
Additionally I will be donating all proceeds from sales of the previously released OST for Automation - The Car Company Tycoon Game from now until the end of February 2020 to the following organisations, again split 50/50:
Wildlife Victoria
Victorian Country Fire Authority
The Automation OST can be found at the following places:
Bandcamp
Steam - again note that you need to own the game to purchase the OST as additional content.
At the beginning of March 2020 I'll post details of revenue for both soundtracks from now until the end of February 2020, accompanied by donation receipts to the four organisations.
I sincerely hope you enjoy the music, and more importantly I hope you can help.
