The greatest writing comes from urgent need, and it is just such a palatable sense of urgency that motivated musician, songwriter and producer Diedrich Donald Weiss, known by his musical alias RED BIRD RISING, to write “My Revolution”. “My Revolution” is at once a profound love song and an immense anti-war statement. A tremendous undertaking and community effort, “My Revolution” features a wide range of instrumentation and musical collaborators, including Ukrainian husband and wife Taras Kuznetsov on lead vocals and Ana Pshokina on bass.
My Revolution is the first RED BIRD RISING release, featuring Taras Kuznetsov on lead vocals and co-directing the video about his experience living in Odessa, Ukraine, during the Russian invasion. The production of My Revolution was done under the constant threat of missile and bomb strikes, which added a sense of urgency to the project. Mariano Cukierman, a producer in Buenos Aires, recorded Fernando Moreno on drums and tracked electric guitar and keys using Diedrich’s guitar riffs and backing vocals. Taras had to walk over an hour to his studio to track lead vocals while worrying about missile and bomb strikes
After Ana Pshokina tracked bass in Odessa, Megan Gould tracked violins and violas in New York with session cellist Eleanor Norton. Diedrich, Taras, and Mariano collaborated on mixing the audio of My Revolution, incorporating audio from the Ukrainian protests during the Orange Revolution of 2014. The intro features guitar feedback harmonics echoing through history.
The consequences of global conflict and the inhumanity of war
The video production for My Revolution took place in Odessa, where shots were taken during the day and at night, including chilling sirens heard from Taras’s apartment. Diedrich edited the video, using footage shot by Taras and others from sites like Dattalion and Ukraiine Today on Telegram. To convey the inner struggle, Diedrich used dance scenes shot by Flor Giardino in Buenos Aires featuring choreographer and dancer Melina Ascune.
Despite the bombings from Russian missiles that damaged Odessa’s energy infrastructure after the explosion on the Crimea Bridge, Diedrich and Taras (along with his wife) completed the project. My Revolution showcases the personal stories of artists from different parts of the world coming together to create something meaningful, despite the challenging circumstances. The project is a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity in the face of adversity.
The lyrics of the song are sure to move one’s soul. Red Bird Rising states, “There are times you know we all need a rest, Can’t lose my mind, checking the headlines, Play my piano instead, Good good, they haven’t yet bombed my home…” The song would be a perfect companion to movies that explore themes of historical wars with a focus on human emotions in the narrative. Revolutionary works of cinema like The Pianist, Schindler’s List, and Saving Private Ryan come to mind.