Earlier this month the international climate change conference held by UN in Paris caused some controversy. Apparently not everyone on this planet believes in global warming. „Believe“ is not even a quite correct word as there are numerous facts in support of the existance of this problem which you either know either don’t. Some political blocs (Republicans as the most scandalous ones) insist that climate change is a minor problem on today’s agenda. „It’s only 4 degrees“ — they must have said — ain’t a big deal for the temperature shift, right?
Antony Hegarty thinks the opposite. In the statement released alongside the song „4 Degrees“ she notices, „I have grown tired of grieving for humanity, and I also thought I was not being entirely honest by pretending that I am not a part of the problem.“ Singing from the perspective of the establishment which would rather watch the world „boiling“ than decide to take some action, she goes,
I wanna hear the dogs crying for water
I wanna see the fish go belly up in the sea
And all those lemurs and all those tiny creatures
I wanna see them burn
It’s only 4 degrees.
Antony is not alone in her artistic war against these terrifying global issues. Among the artists who also displayed their artworks in hope to be heard at the conference were Thom Yorke, 3D from Massive Attack, Björk, Young Fathers and many others.
The theme of this song seems suitable for such artist as Hegarty. After spending more than 15 successful years as a part of her own project called Antony and the Johnsons, Anthony (she changed her stage name to ANOHNI last winter) has spared some time to focus on the next big chapter in her career – a collaborative album HOPELESSNESS which was produced by Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never. This first single alone already proves that Antony’s new record is – as she described it herself – “an electronic record with teeth”.
Nastya Kazakova
