Linda Marks is a multi-award winning Boston singer-songwriter. Currently preparing her 15th studio album, Marks is as prolific as she is mindful, using her music to touch upon current events and issues shaping our lives and world. Most recently, Marks is the curator of The Sanctuary Project, tapping a global network of musicians to craft a song that supports—and includes the words of—domestic violence survivors. She is the founder of artist-alliance group Women In Music Gathering, the leader of the International Singer Songwriter Association Boston/Northeast Chapter, a Voting member of the Recording Academy, and member of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance and Folk Alliance International.
What inspired you to write “Be The Change?”
We’re living in an unprecedented time of societal breakdown and upheaval. The pandemic broke down community and left many feeling isolated as polarization, intolerance and hatred escalated. Each day we live with the weight of senseless wars, unmitigated gun violence, climate change, rising anti-Semitism, and challenges to human rights on many levels. I would like for my song to encourage people to find ways that they can contribute to a better future for us all.
What is the key message of the song:
“Be The Change” is a song of hope and empowerment and a call to action. Top down is not working. We need to lead and change from the bottom up. “Be The Change” reminds us that each of us matters and can make a difference, encouraging us to do so. Choose an issue you care about and take action! Small steps can create big waves.
How did you and Mike Greenly come to work together on this song?
Mike and I met through the Indie Collaborative, and first collaborated on another song at the heart of our times, “Let There Be Love,” released in 2022. When I felt called to write “Be The Change,” I immediately knew to reach out to Mike. He, too, likes to write authentic, timely and impactful songs. I approached with him with a sketch of the song with music and a rough draft of the lyrics. Mike added his magic with words, as we went back and forth shaping and crafting our message to be most poignant and impactful.
Who did you work with to produce the song?
I have been working on my last several albums with Erik Balkey of Hudson Harding Music and multi-Grammy winning sound engineer Glenn Barratt of Morningstar Studios in Philadelphia. I’m now working with Erik and Glenn on my 15th studio album, “The Silence Of The Stars” which will come out 1/1/25. “Be The Change” will be part of that album, but because of the urgency of getting our message out in the time before the elections, I decided to first release it as a single on 9/15/24. Erik also included “Be The Change” on the September edition of “Folk Now: Songs For The Times,” which is a curated collection of the best in Folk Music.
Are there ways you follow the direction of “Be The Change,” to choose an issue that inspires you and take action?
Very much so! Writing songs at the heart of our times is one way I can “be the change.” A song can also be the foundation of a larger effort, and that is what I have been doing with “Sanctuary,” a song I wrote that was inspired by and includes the words of domestic violence survivors. I wrote it for a benefit concert in November, 2023. It was for two organizations that help domestic violence survivors and their families: Casa Myrna and RESPOND, Inc. Both organizations provide free refuge, residential programs, counseling and other resources. Staff from both organizations joined me on stage to sing “Sanctuary,” and it was very powerful. I realized that I needed to do more with the song.
Sadly, domestic violence knows few bounds and impacts people of all ages, genders, races, socioeconomic backgrounds and geographies. I decided I wanted to make a “global recording” of the song and invited a team of talented artists, many fellow Recording Academy members, from not only the USA but also Germany, Greece, India and Israel to add their vocal and instrumental talents. Adina Feldman, Amy McAllister, Dimitris Nezis and I all provided vocals. Charu Suri, Christian Fabian, Noshir Mody and Willie Sordillo added instrumental parts. Mixing and mastering was done by Lonnie Park with Nate Horton.”
So that song is a way I’ll be striving to “Be The Change.”
How have you built The Sanctuary Project around your song “Sanctuary?”
I created a series of events, concerts and benefits to bring a message of healing, support and empowerment to domestic violence survivors, their families and the good organizations that support them. Also to invite all of us to look at the roots of domestic violence to create a safer world for all. I’m trying to act both locally and globally. On June 23, we premiered the video of “Sanctuary” at the Burren in Somervilles, MA as part of the album release concert for my 14th studio album, “A Recipe For Hope.” On August 23, “Sanctuary” was released on all digital platforms globally. I chose August 23, my deceased mother’s birthday, as a way of honoring her. Sadly, I grew up in a household where domestic violence cast a dark shadow. On September 15, Pennsylvania singer-songwriter Randie O’Neil joined me at One Broadway Collaborative in Lawrence, MA for a benefit concert for Casa Myrna and RESPOND, Inc.
The Sanctuary Project has a series of events planned for October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness month. On October 1st, I will livestream a performance of “Sanctuary” to extend a message of compassion to a global audience. I will also share video briefs with statements from many of the artists involved in recording “Sanctuary” about their feelings about the mission of the song and The Sanctuary Project. On October 5, I will act locally, performing on the Waltham Common, as part of a fall festival organized by REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, the domestic violence program in the town where I live. I will also be a featured performer at RESTORE, an October 25 event at Lawrence club One Broadway Collaborative. This community gathering will unite artists, politicians and nonprofits in a mission to help trauma survivors heal through creativity.
What is your vision for “Be The Change” and your other social impact songs?
I want people to know that they matter and that other people care about their experience and their story. I want them to know they are not alone and that they can make a difference. Songs are a wonderful way of building bridges, both between people and communities. Music is a universal language and it connects us heart to heart.
To Readers:
To watch the “Be The Change” lyric video:
To watch the “Sanctuary” video: