My Song for Change 2014 winner Matt Blais performs Fire From the Spark, featuring Sam Roberts (Sam Roberts Band), Cone McCaslin (Sum 41), Ian D’Sa (Billy Talent), Hill Kourkoutis (Serena Ryder) and Sekou Lumumba (Serena Ryder), and produced by David Bottrill (Tool, Muse, Stone Sour).
My Song for Change contest winner debuts finished song and video
Calgary songwriter shares studio with who’s who of Canadian music
Toronto, ON (December 2, 2014) – Recording sessions are finally complete and 2014 My Song for Change national songwriting contest winner, Matt Blais, is ready to share his winning song and accompanying video with Canada. The Calgary-based musician was selected by a panel of judges in August during the Western Union-sponsored contest for his song “Fire From the Spark”, which was then professionally recorded and produced with Sam Roberts and Grammy Award-winning producer David Bottrill. The September sessions also featured special guest spots from notable artists including Ian D’Sa of Billy Talent, Cone McCaslin of Sum 41, and Sekou Lumumba and Hill Kourkoutis of Serena Ryder. Additional production support was provided by Head Engineer Kevin Dietz.
“Fire From the Spark” is available for purchase on iTunes, with proceeds from sales going to Make Music Matter, a charity that focuses on enhancing, enriching and improving children’s lives in developing countries through the transformative power of music. The music video can be seen on the Make Music Matter Facebook page and Youtube Channel.
“The My Song for Change journey has been a truly memorable one, highlighted by an incredible recording session with a talented group of artists, producers and songwriters,” said Matt Blais. “I am so thrilled to share my song and video with my fellow Canadians and hope that its message inspires others to use music as a tool for change.”
This year’s My Song for Change national songwriting contest was again hosted by Make Music Matter and sponsored by Western Union. Building on the Western Union heritage of connecting individuals around the world through a global network in more than 200 countries and territories, the sponsorship sought to leverage the power of music to educate, connect, transform and enrich people’s lives.
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About Make Music Matter
Make Music Matter believes that by utilizing the transformative power of music, we can influence people around the world to make more positive choices. Positive choices today help to create a positive future for all. Since 2007, Make Music Matter has been using music to engage, educate and foster leadership in youth in communities affected by extreme poverty. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, Make Music Matter’s on-the-ground efforts strive to enhance, enrich, and improve children’s lives in developing countries. For more information, please visit www.makemusicmatter.org.
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. As of September 30, 2014, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of over 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and over 100,000 ATMs and kiosks. In 2013, The Western Union Company completed 242 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $82 billion of principal between consumers, and 459 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
For more information and interviews please contact:
Darcy Ataman
Make Music Matter Inc
