Art and photo credit: Simon Rainer
Manu Delago
‘ReCycling’ video out now via One Little Independent Records
“A masterful and sensitive musician” – The Telegraph
“Virtuoso” – The Times
“Dreamy acoustics” – XLR8R
World renowned handpan player and composer Manu Delago has released his brand-new video as the ambitious ReCycling tour comes to an end.
For the past 35 days, Delago along with his band and crew travelled around central Europe by bicycle to perform and raise awareness for environmental sustainability. On this unique adventure all the musical instruments and the required equipment for the live performances were transported in specially built bicycle trailers. As well, the ReCycling team ensured that sustainable products were used throughout, they sourced local, organic and vegetarian food on their many stops and they innovated when it came to setting up their various stages including their own solar powered LED lightshow. In total they cycled over 1500km.
The tour also started prior to the lifting of restrictions, which meant that to begin they streamed shows online and outside in many cases. Venues reopened again in Austria allowing the band to experience the drastic change in performance style in an immediate fashion half way through their journey.
Manu Delago has performed in prestigious venues in more than 50 countries around the world. The Grammy nominated artist runs his own band and has collaborated with various artists such as Björk, Anoushka Shankar and Olafur Arnalds and has appeared as a soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Explaining the motivation behind the Recycling Tour, Delago said; “The intense travels by air and bus around the world made me think how I as a musician can contribute to climate protection. This gave rise to the idea of developing an environmentally friendly counterpart to a conventional concert tour”.
“My goal is to inspire as many people as possible, besides the music industry, to pursue a sustainable lifestyle,” he tells us, and will publish a short film every day, both as a tour diary and with latest facts and recommendations on sustainability and environmental protection.
Adam Pawloff, climate expert from Greenpeace in Austria, said; “We really welcome this project because it shows that we can all contribute to climate protection – especially in the area of mobility, where around a third of climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions are generated. By walking short distances and increasingly using bicycles and public transport we protect our environment. But this also requires the appropriate political framework conditions.”
Delago continues; “Although we need laws and regulations for climate and environmental protection, we do not always have to wait for the legislator. We can also live more sustainably because it is fun and you can gain new experiences.”
The ’ReCycling’ single is a dynamic, energetic new direction for Manu, utilizing his signature handpan percussion and blending it with manipulated electronics as well as the organic sounds created by the bikes themselves.
For more information visit www.recyclingtour2021.com
