The Time Is Ripe, by Island Seeds

Recording Artist: Island Seeds

Released by: Home for Cooperation

Release date: 21/06/2020

Publicist: Louvana Records

The song is now available on all music platforms!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1ekpclHXXfpZYrpwi2Boqb?si=sEoJ7F1GRtGgJBLGI3qSFA

YouTube: https://youtu.be/sV9iQDS9BB0

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-time-is-ripe-single/1517732515

Bandcamp: https://islandseeds.bandcamp.com/track/the-time-is-ripe

Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/97508342

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BKJQFD1/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Island+Seeds&qid=1592829110&s=dmusic&search-type=ss&sr=1-3

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bghfkbiecwenjptk4kg55z2qjpi&tid=song-Tuhjs2h5zbahnzbwnkmyr2luymu

About Time Is Ripe!

Life in Cyprus where strict lockdown measures have blocked all checkpoint crossings between Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking Cypriots, the island’s two largest populations, for the first time since the historic crossing point openings in 2003, saw a supergroup of the island’s musicians join forces. The result is a song that drives the message home that no amount of divisive politics will stop the two communities from re-uniting. Recorded by Island Seeds, a collective of nearly 40 musicians from across the divide, ‘The Time Is Ripe’ sees the troupe of artists sing their invitation to the world of united cooperation manifested.

The song’s music and trilingual lyrics in English, Cypriot-Greek and Cypriot-Turkish were written by songwriter Lefteris Moumtzis, musician/poet Vassilis Philippou and poet Gürgenç Korkmazel. The release comes with a music video created by Antonis Pouliasis depicting scenes of the Island Seeds artists recording their parts both in studio and from their homes in Cyprus, Germany, the UK, Greece, Canada and the United States. The Island Seeds collective sprouted from the music scene promoted through the United by Sounds programme by Home For Cooperation, a community centre situated in the demilitarized UN Buffer Zone in the island’s capital which has been divided for over forty years. Promoting nights such as Thursday Lives, Rooftop Thursdays and the Home Café Concerts, Home for Cooperation hosts concerts involving musicians from both communities. It has not only been the meeting point for multiple Cypriot artists, but has prompted venues throughout the island to programme musicians from both sides of the divide. In fact, these very artists are part of a new generation of emerging Cypriot artists that view their music scene and its innate excitement surrounding co-creation as a response to what is known as the ‘Cyprus Problem’. Recently celebrating its ninth anniversary, Home For Cooperation is dedicated to peacebuilding and intercultural exchange, and is the embodiment of intercommunal collaboration.

Moumtzis, who has been acting as the project coordinator for the community centre’s music programmes, used his own experiences of hosting cooperations between artists of the two communities as lyrical inspiration. The lockdown all the more elevated his desire for unity and the importance of human interaction: “The title conveys that after all these years of pain, the time is ripe to heal this collective wound and come together as humans to coexist and co-create”. Korkmazel adds, “To speed up the process of knocking down the wall and to strengthen the bond between the communities we first need to mix! We need to write poems, sing songs, drink and eat together, dance, make love.”

 The song is a fresh take on Cyprus’ musical landscape: traditional celebratory dance rhythms meet funky grooves, spoken-word folk poetry interlace with soulful vocal runs, and quarter-tone saz hooks ride through electric guitar comps. With a multitude of genres having been promoted at Home for Cooperation’s events, the Island Seeds artists each bring their own touch to ‘The Time Is Ripe’ – whether that be revitalised Cypriot folk practices, jazzy synth solos or psychedelic rock riffs. They are an amalgamation that mirrors Cyprus’ present-day music culture: open-minded, eclectic, and not bound in purist agendas. Many Island Seeds artists similarly reflect the number of ethnic communities such as musicians of Palestinian, Lebanese and Armenian descent that have long comprised Cyprus’ identity.

 For me, one of the most beautiful feelings is for people to express their love through art together - whether they know each other or not! With the lyrics and music that I have written, I want to turn each person’s gaze towards nature, where it’s much more apparent that the symbiosis of all creatures is harmonious, both within joy and within pain. "Let us learn from the trees: Spread our branches out and within our embrace, people will make peace,” states Vassilis Philippou.

 In the end, ‘The Time Is Ripe’ champions synergy between Cyprus’ communities, just as their musical and cultural tradition has embodied throughout the island's history. The lyrics lay out their proposition in simple terms: Let’s bring our voices together. No theatrical aggression; no babbling academia. Just a warm-hearted celebration of harmony and co-creation.

Press Kit