A Northwest band has been chosen to write the sound track for the movie/documentary Green Light: The Sustainable Oroville Project.
It will be written by Portland musician Keegan Smith.
The movie will be framed around the concept of a small town--in this case, Oroville, Washington--that draws together entrepreneurs, enlightened city planners, local businesses, and farmers--to propose and design ways to be a sustainable and energy efficient community—without any direction or involvement from the federal government.
A major component of the story is the installation of a canola seed crushing plant, with contracts from local farmers to grow the seed.
According to Keegan Smith and the Fam’s web site--the band is an eclectic mix of musical heavyweights, producers, and bandleaders from the Northwest's thriving music scene. The fundamental instrumentation of the Fam is comprised of: Tyrone Hendrix (drums), Chris Chard (bass), Josh Wuerth (guitar), and Justin Dodge (keyboards/producer). However they frequently feature all-star performers on various other instruments such as brass and percussion.
Kelsey Smith, Keegan’s sister, manages the band. Kelsey is very close to her brother and she considers the band to be part of a close knit family.
“Keegan is an amazing story teller,” said Kelsey. “He connects with people by walking and dancing through the crowd. It energizes his audience and perpetuates a sense of familiarity that makes them feel at home."
In the case of the Sustainable Oroville movie, the message is green industry and sustainable living.
The Keegan Smith and the Fam band hooked up with the Sustainable Oroville project through a mutual friend, Kevin Pile, of EcoTrain Media Group, because they had been in discussions about the project for a year.
Keegan, teamed with his producer and keyboarder, Justin Dodge, is a perfect match to write the sound track for Green Light. The Keegan Smith Hybrid Album was written over a two month period from the family’s mountain cabin. Keegan stayed there during the time and his band and other artists, who endorse the same environmental perspectives, were a part of the project.
Smith drives a Honda Civic Hybrid and made sure the packaging material for the album was mostly made of recyclable and biodegradable products. A video of cabin life was shot and was debuted with music from the album at the Mission Theater in Portland in 2008.
“It changed the perspective on how to make music,” said Keegan by telephone. “The album brought a lot of artists together all in one place. I want to support as many people as possible, who share the same vision. It’s my purpose and I’m willing to go to India and work with Choice Solar, or anywhere else to build a bridge of communication about solar, hydrogen, and sustainability. I want to go global, with a local perspective.”
A YouTube video listed on Blue Rain Productions showcases music by the Fam. It includes brief interviews with members of the band.
“Our mission is to motivate, create, and inspire communication and togetherness through the harmony of music," said Smith in the video.
The musician is emerging as a local favorite, after a 10 year career. In 2010, Keegan won Male Artist of the Year for the second year in a row.
His popularity comes from great music, talented band members, and remarkable guest artists. But it also comes from his “hellos and hugs” persona. Smith doesn’t hesitate to slip into the audience and talk to people. He gives them hugs and remembers their names. It has made some people feel as if they are part of the performance and they enjoy being embraced and appreciated.
“I love people,” Keegan said. “I am considering touring in my RV to spread the word (environmental responsibility) for the future of my daughter, my wife, and my family. I don’t want to be just ‘hey, look at me and my music’. I want it to mean something and music is my way of getting that message out there.”
The movie/documentary has already shot footage of the canola crushing plant that has been assembled in Oroville..
It will be the next generation film on the level of “An Inconvenient Truth” and the sound track will be a vital part of packaging a new global message.
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