The idea of Nothing is Lost stemmed from the opportunity presented by BIMM Bristol University, where I recently graduated, to craft a song for the UN Climate Change Conference - COP 28. Inspired by a collection of eco-centred poems penned by students at the University of Exeter, which were also featured at COP28, I found myself immersed in a creative whirlwind.

The week before this opportunity, I was circling around by this chord progression, searching for its narrative direction. When I read through the poems and I delved into their verses, I sensed a perfect synergy, igniting the creative spark I had been seeking. Fittingly, this all happened just as I was staying at a beach in a caravan for a week with my laptop and guitar. What came to be in the final version resulted in a musical expression that traverses from a sense of melancholy and hope to an anthem of resilience and empowerment.

Central to the sonic landscape of Gushh is the use of vocal samples sourced from vintage media. This exploration took on a unique dimension for "Nothing is Lost," as it juxtaposes the past's perspective on progress and industry with our modern understanding of environmental urgency. The incorporation of these samples serves to underscore the stark reality of the industries that have inadvertently propelled climate change.

As the narrative of the song unfolded, it became imperative to address key themes echoed in the poetry—deforestation, industrial pollution, agricultural impact, and the looming threat of rising sea levels. However, upon reflection, I realized that the initial portrayal inadvertently skewed towards a fatalistic viewpoint. Thus, I endeavoured to pivot the message in the latter half of the song, offering a glimpse of optimism and the potential for collective action.

The title, "Nothing is Lost," draws its resonance from the evocative verses of the Archipelago poem, which served as the primary muse for the composition, both musically and thematically. Specifically, from this stanza:

Tell them to observe
how free-ranging tides behave, how dunes erode
to beach, saltmarsh to dunes, land to saltmarsh
and nothing is lost.

I am thrilled to share Nothing is Lost with you which I shall be releasing to the world on Earth Day. It is a musical journey that intertwines personal introspection with a global call to action. I hope it lands contently within your heart like it has in mine.

Warm regards,

Gushh - Richard