For more information on the Music Declares Emergency Turn Up The Volume campaign and this week’s events visit here.

Speaking to NME about the organisation’s goals in 2019, Music Declares Emergency founder and Savages’ drummer Fay Milton said: “There’s such a short period of time to make the changes we need to make, and to make people wake up and realise that there isn’t time for everyone to change everything they do. Music can do a lot of things. According to Madonna, it makes the people come together ; for Missy Elliot it makes you lose control ; for Julie Andrews, it’s the very thing that makes the hills alive . ABBA? They’re just bloody grateful for it. And as Hot Chip’ synth botherer Joe Goddard would have it, music is the answer . But the question on everyone’s lips, possibly, is: can music and the music industry “drive forward public understanding of the climate emergency and pressure governments to take immediate action on climate and biodiversity loss?” Peter Saville has redesigned his iconic artwork for Joy Division‘s ‘Unknown Pleasures’ for a new t-shirt to raise funds for Music Declares Emergency’s No Music On A Dead Planet. To use Greta Thunberg’s analogy, the house is on fire, and there isn’t time for whoever started the fire with their cigarette to quit smoking before saying the house is on fire – it’s on fire now, and we need to fix this. Let’s change our lifestyles, let’s fly less, let’s use less plastic – but ultimately what’s needed is a governmental response.”The latest release is designed by Thom York of Radiohead fame and his long term artistic collaborator Stanley Donwood . The pair met at Exeter University’s art school, and first worked together in 1994 when Donwood worked on the single My Iron Lung from that same year, and created the cover for 1995 album The Bends. He’s gone on to work on designs for the band’s album ever since, as well as Yorke’s solo projects, inclidong Atoms for Peace. But Luke’s work extends far beyond music. His illustrations grace innumerable video games – including in-game elements for the Gears Of War franchise as well as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. His artwork has also appeared on Santa Cruz skateboards and in 2000 AD – the iconic comic where Luke started out as a graphic designer some 15 years ago.

Music Declares Emergency describe themselves as “a group of artists, music industry professionals and organisations that stand together to declare a climate and ecological emergency and call for an immediate governmental response to protect all life on Earth.” Considering all this, it's no wonder the voice of the music community is once again growing louder on the issue. This time it feels different – more defiant. Enter Music Declares Emergency, a grassroots collective co-founded by Fay Milton from punk band Savages. They witnessed the work being done by activist group Extinction Rebellion in 2019 and decided it was time to create a space where their friends and colleagues in the music industry could unite in action on climate. Their striking motto stands also a warning: ‘No Music On A Dead Planet’. Their mission is clear, too. They urge governments and media to tell the truth about the scale and severity of the problem, call on governments to have net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and encourage people to recognise the injustices in society that’ve led to the climate and ecological emergency. If you are a record label or Artist manager you can encourage and support your artists to get involved with this important campaign The series launched with a design from letterpress megadude Anthony Burrill, and brought his bold letterforms to life beautifully in stark monochrome. His tees were followed by designs from Jamie Reid.I started doing illustration and art from a very young age and most artists will probably say that. When I left school I played guitar and I always wanted to be in a band. I think it’s a common theme among artists, they play an instrument as well. I was in lots of really shitty bands and I realised that being in a band was really hard. I always did artwork, for friend’s bands and stuff. The music industry might just be one corner of the gigantic super-structure that is the climate crisis, but it has huge influence to inspire the action that’s needed. So don’t be disheartened. Complain, shout, protest. You can do your bit, but also don’t let our leaders and big business owners get away with not doing what’s required. It’s your future in their hands. We all want to still be enjoying our favourite bands in decades to come. There’s no music on a dead planet, after all. At the time of its formation, independent group Music Declares set about organising an industry wide declaration of Climate and Ecological Emergency signed by leading artists including Thom Yorke, Stanley Donwood, Jamie Reid, Paul Cook, and Anthony Burrill as well as businesses within the UK music industry, calling for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and pledging industry action on environmental sustainability. At the heart of its work is the belief that “the music community can drive forward public understanding and pressure government to take immediate action on climate and biodiversity loss.” This goal is currently being bolstered by a line of t-shirts that raise awareness and funds for the organization, created by big names whose work has frequently married visual art and music, including Jamie Reid and Anthony Burrill.