Kate Magdelena - 'United (to Save the World)'

Review by Daniel Hoyt & Staff

'United (to Save the World)' by Kate Magdalena is featured on BWH Music Group’s new release, ‘On Peace Street, Vol. One.’ The compilation album is a collection of 19 original songs in various genres by today's best independent artists and songwriters. Sharing songs about peace and social justice, the artist's songs will ultimately remind you of the importance of peace, fairness, love and unity. Filled with meaningful lyrics and exceptional music, this playlist is an example of how music can influence, and even change, people, movements, and society.

“United (To Save the World)” is an environmentalist folk piece that is reminiscent of the peace songs sung in the late 60's by artists such as Joni Mitchell or The Youngbloods. The piece opens with a fade in acoustic guitar and features a prominent flute solo, which really drives in a Dion “Abraham, Martin and John” feel. It features brushes on the sticks. The song mostly remains in key of Eb; however, there are a few nice modal interchange chords. The song features Kate Magdalena on lead vocals and guitar, Robert Afifi on flute, Jeff Martin on bass, Vic Carberry on drums, and words by Deborah Whitman. Kate's voice is pristine with a pure tone.

The song was written to create awareness of the terrible conditions that humanity has put this earth through. Advanced technologies and such are harming the environment, and the song calls for us to unite to save the Earth, even in the time of division that we live in.

The song’s lyrics were written by Deborah Whitman, an environmentalist, who began the non-profit organization, “Environmental Voices.” The song calls to “preserve the future for our children”, which has been the battle cry for many generations for environmentalists. It is something that people seldom listen to, but will greatly regret once it’s too late.

Kate Magdalena is a fantastic and beautiful melody writer and Deborah Whitman is an amazing lyricist. The message that these two created together inspire people to actually take action, to unite, in this time of crisis.

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About Kate Magdalena

Kate grew up to the sounds of music on Broadway in New York City, during the 1970's exploding singer-songwriter, folk, rock, and psychedelic music scene, featuring Crosby Stills and Nash, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and so many more artists who continue to inspire listeners worldwide.

Kate was a child of the ‘60’s, and when she came of age, she moved from the East Coast to San Francisco on a quest to discover the meaning of her life. Kate’s journey was an unusual one in that she did many other things before turning to music as her central career focus, and traveling many paths to arrive at where she is now.

She adores teaching children and has done so as a music and classroom teacher. She was a hospital chaplain, bringing healing music to patients, and most important of all, she is a mother to two beloved children, with her husband Randall. Kate calls the Bay Area her home.

Drawn to many different styles of music, she became enchanted by Irish-Canadian artist Loreena McKennitt, who conjures a lost world with her harp and singing. Kate intends to do the same. She is also enamored of artists like Rachel Platten, Sara Bareilles, and the controversial Sinead O’Connor, and many others.

For Kate, “Singing is a way to bring what is inside, outside. It is to make the invisible audible. It can change minds and soften hearts. I believe that music is part of every cell of the human body; and that we can use music to reach others in ways words cannot.” Kate has an ability to move her listeners with her voice, to bring healing and joy. Her songwriting began through her poetry writing, and by setting a few poems to music, by great poets like WB Yeats and Robert Frost, and then in discovering a love of writing which came from her own heart.

Kate was raised in era in which people looked to the arts and music to inspire social activism. Like Dylan’s great songs, Kate’s songs address some of the pressing issues of our own day. She also sings of unity, hope, loss, and of the power of prayer in dealing with life’s many challenges. And she hopes that her own pursuit of her dream at age 62 might inspire others to follow their own cherished dreams regardless of barriers.

For more information on Kate Magdalena, please visit her website.