By Laura Ferreiro
Whether it’s saving animals in India or encouraging young writers to explore their creative talents, indie musicians including She & Him, Feist and Sia are getting into the holiday spirit by supporting an array of great causes.
Looking for gifts for the indie-music lovers on your shopping list? What could be better than giving them music merch that they not only love but that also support worthwhile non-profits? Feist fans will be happy to learn that 100% of the proceeds from sales of her merchandise this holiday season will support one of three causes she holds near to her heart.
Feist
In a lengthy statement to fans, Feist said: “I can isolate three areas that I feel need support. The first is the environment….I sing about volcanoes and storms and the sea and the mountains because I find they’re the most direct representation of our own invisible seismic and cataclysmic emotional tides. Luckily, though, there are people who deal with the immediate rather than the symbolic within areas like alternative energy, reforestation, nature conservancy, water supply issues and the infinite other tolls climate change and consumptive living have taken.
“The second is people. Depending on the year, these people may be homeless in your home town…they may be hungry or displaced, uneducated, addicted, impoverished, lost, angry or helpless. Born in the wrong place or disheartened. It’s a very good thing that many lucky and smart people work to help the much more numerous unlucky.
“The third is Animals. I personally don’t support the eating of animals. Neither did Einstein or Da Vinci nor the Dalai Lama. The animals we’ll direct help towards may be abandoned or tortured or refugees from factory farming or natural disasters. There are many organizations who advocate for the protection of endangered species or mistreated individuals, argue and educate for alternatives to animal research, aim to protect animals from violence and advocate against standardized cruelty.”
Meanwhile, She & Him – the duo made up of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward – are donating proceeds from their Christmas album, “A Very She & Him Christmas,” to 826 National, a non-profit dedicated to helping kids and teenagers explore their creative talents through writing.
The album features recordings of several holiday hits and was inspired by classic Christmas albums by The Carpenters, The Beach Boys and Elvis Presley. In addition to being available through a free iOS app and here via Amazon, it has also been pressed on wintry white vinyl.
Check out their new animated video for “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” below:
Meanwhile, Sia is encouraging her fans to help rescue street animals in India by sponsoring animals and giving sponsorship gifts to friends and family. She works closely with the non-profit Animal Aid Unlimited, which runs an animal hospital and shelter in Udaipur, Rajasthan India, where ownerless street animals are rescued, healed, loved, and returned to their neighborhoods.
To thank Sia, Animal Action Aid created this moving video: