Five years from concept to release for charity single

Our Only World, shares its title with the name of the charity it is promoting, one that was set up to raise awareness of the fight against marine plastic pollution.

‘It is a huge relief to see it finally released as so many people have been involved,’ said Chantal Harrison, the single’s co-ordinator.

‘We finally get to show everyone what we set out to do. There is the potential for this to be really big. We want people to share it everywhere, to make children and adults aware of the harm plastic can do.’

The single was recorded in November 2021, but Canto, a choir which was then made up of students aged 9 to 11 who were all at Melrose, the Ladies College junior school, had begun rehearsing it in 2019.

Covid and production delays have meant that getting the song from inception to release took much longer than anyone expected.

The song and video, much of which was filmed in Guernsey in 2021, was launched at an event at the Old Government House Hotel, with American producer David Smart, who has overseen the project, in attendance.

The song’s unveiling was also the first time the girls, who are all now teenagers, have heard the finished production or seen themselves in the video.

Eva Redelinghuys, 14, is now in the first year of her GCSEs and said she had learnt about the project in a lunchtime choir rehearsal.

‘Now five years later here we are, it has been lovely to have been involved. It was such an amazing experience.’

‘It is amazing to thing this all started five years ago,’ said Catherine Paul, who is now 13.

‘And now it has the chance to go all around the world.’

The message behind the song is one that is close to many of the girls’ hearts.

‘I do a lot of sailing, and we often see dolphins around Guernsey,’ said 14-year-old Heather Jones.

‘It’s very upsetting to see them alongside the plastic pollution.’

Musical director Jean Owen said that to stay fresh after all this time was quite an achievement.

‘It has taken a huge amount of dedication from everyone,’ she said. ‘When we started I was easily taller than all the girls.’

The song is only available on download but the group are hoping that sheet music will also be produced.

‘We would like to get schools and choirs across the world singing the song,’ said Mrs Owen. ‘That’s the next step. It could be world-changing.’

. The song can be downloaded from most online music providers.

The video is available on YouTube at https://bit.ly/44VQdRc