(Our Love Is) Geothermal

So this came together pretty quickly.

In my last post I mentioned that KQED’s story on (I’m Your) Heat Pump had recently aired on NPR. Turns out that story was heard by one Jamie Beard, Founder and Executive Director of Project InnerSpace, a non-profit dedicated to advancing geothermal energy (a 24/7 renewable that often flies under the radar but deserves to be in the power conversation alongside solar and wind). In July she sent me an e-mail with the generous subject header, “The heat pump song is amazing,” and an admirably concise body text: 

Can I get you to do a geothermal gig as a follow on. Would love to discuss. Debut at NY climate week.

Jamie

Labor Day, September 9: tracking vocals chez MTR. Laying track before the speeding train.

So we have a call the following week, July 25. Turns out NY Climate Week is only two months away. Jamie ideally wants a song and a Heat Pump-like music video by September 24. And I’m about to go on a two-week family vacation.  

“That feels a little tight,” I say, tamping down panic, “but I can put you in touch with Polytechnic Marketing, who produced the Heat Pump video”—thinking they will of course tell her that’s way too little time. “Great!” she says, “please do that.”

​“Great!” Polytechnic tells her. “We should be able to swing that—assuming Mike can write the song fast enough.” OK then! Two intense months later (including a two-week vacation with lots of time thinking about geothermal), we not only have a song and music video once again featuring the inimitable Will Hammond Jr., but Will and I even debuted the song live at NY Climate Week this past Tuesday, at Project InnerSpace’s Geothermal House event in downtown Manhattan. I am a little tired. 

There’s so much more to tell you about—not just the whirlwind trip to New York, but also our trip to LA to shoot the video two weeks ago. We were fortunate to be able to reassemble the entire creative and production team from the Heat Pump video, including directors Ed Ng and Keoni Mars, and the crack team at Polytechnic led by Joel Boardman and creative director Tanya Spanier. Though it produced some stressful days along the way, I feel so lucky to be have been able to do this again so soon after the launch of (I’m Your) Heat Pump.
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So I’ll tell you more in an upcoming post, but for now, please enjoy the song and the video! Once again, be forewarned: it shamelessly leans into the many double entendres provided (this time) by geothermal technology. It’s what Jamie wanted, I swear.

One More Link to the Video: Press This

P.S. As you'll see, Ed and Keoni had me dance (on camera!) this time (those FOOLS!). Here's Will and I learning some moves from our outstanding choreographer, multi-hyphenate talent Monroe Cline:

September 13, video shoot at Orbital Studios in LA. Lava guitar. Coolest object in the universe. They did not let me keep it. Photo courtesy of Tanya Spanier.

September 24, Geothermal House: Hall des Lumieres in New York City. Courtesy Project InnerSpace