AN INSTRUMENTAL music album inspired by sharks has been created by a Droitwich artist in a bid to change negative perceptions of the species.
Artist Kurisu’s album – Grace & Majesty – forms a collection of five instrumental tracks dedicated to shedding light on the often misunderstood world of sharks.
The album was inspired by the artists visit to a webinar held by The Shark Trust charity, where the animal’s portrayal in the media was discussed.
“I’ve loved sharks for as long as I can remember and care passionately about their survival,” said Kurisu.
Visitors to the webinar explored how sharks are often cast in a negative light with ‘Jaws’ like stereotypes and horror stories of vicious shark attacks – leading to misconceptions and detrimental effects on the species.
During the event, artists were encouraged counter the inaccurate and harmful perception and create works to portray sharks in a positive sense.
Each track on the album focuses on different species and explores their varying temperaments.
The energetic, upbeat opening track ‘Mako’ reflects the speed and energy of the fastest known species of shark while ‘Hammerhead’ is a more ambient affair inspired by a school of hammerhead sharks swimming gracefully.
‘Wobbegong’ is a fun, cheerful track inspired by the unusual and expertly camouflaged Wobbegong species and ‘Basking’ conjures up images of the gentle tranquillity of the Basking shark, a species found around the UK coastline.
Finally, ‘Ganges’ is a track dedicated to one of the rarest sharks, the Ganges shark, a freshwater species found in the Ganges-Hooghly River system in Asia, brought to life by Kurisu’s sanguine and spirited electric sitar.
“They have such an important role in the ocean’s ecosystem and their conservation is of vital importance.
“To be able to create something I hope will help improve their image and inspire others to help protect them means the world to me,” Kurisu added.
The EP is available now on all major music platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Bandcamp, and YouTube.
