Six Elements donate song proceeds to Sandy relief

Atlanta, Georgia based group Six Elements have donated their song “If” to There Is Hope: Disaster Relief. A digital album that currently features over 30 songs (more are being added), the set benefits Music For Relief, a charity set up specifically to render aid to the those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The song comes from Six Elements’ debut disc,Primary Elements. Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If” is more than just a collection of sentences that rhyme; it inspires an idea–the idea of being all you were born to be. This same idea is embodied in the lives of Socrates and Joan of Arc, expressed in the words of the aforementioned “If” and William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus” and visualized in films like “Forrest Gump” and ”The Shawshank Redemption.” Six Elements’ song is an arrangement of Kipling’s “If.”

The piece of music features Stanley Whitaker of Happy the Man and Oblivion Sun fame handling lead vocals. The entire project is the brainchild of Michael (Misha) Shengaout and it is focused on his passion for the concepts behind Kipling’s poem and for progressive rock music. Shengaout sees the album as a celebration of the act of realizing one’s full potential and that is a universal theme. That album was nominated for “Best Debut Record” in the Progawards (progawards.it). In addition to the album, the song “If” is the featured song on a recent EP from the group.

Here is what Larry Toering said at musicstreetjournal.com of the song “If - ,” “This is quite the little epic masterpiece indeed, as a piano motif sets things up and it does almost sound like Peter Gabriel himself is singing, but in such a good way. A flute melody comes in that is so familiar sounding it could be a traditional arrangement. This includes a mesmerizing solo a little further into the track. The piano chords sparring with the flute is another delightful treat here. The lyrics are well put together and comprehensive concerning the storyline. ‘And which is more / You'll be a man my son’ - brilliant!”

For more information on the Music For Relief project go to musicforrelief.org. To buy the benefit album go to thereishoperecords.com/album/disaster-relief-usa. It is a digital only release with all proceeds going to the hurricane relief efforts. For more information on Six Elements, check them out at sixelementsmusic.com.