Chance to reconnect

Creative couple Lydia and Jason Carter aim to inspire children around the world to reconnect after the trauma they endured from the pandemic, with their latest musical project recorded and filmed in the kingdom last summer.

The former Bahrain-based residents launched the feel-good Together We Rise Kids music video over the weekend, featuring 20 youngsters, aged five to 18, of all nationalities, from different schools, singing and acting across the kingdom in a bid to encourage children to put down their devices, make connections, and find their places in society.

“After witnessing the emotional trauma which Covid-19 inflicted on our youth, we had to do something,” said Lydia, a singer and songwriter, an arts education consultant and composer living in the south of France with Jason and her son Xavier. “I saw children and young people losing the ability to connect with each other, being unable to play together and not even allowed in the playground for more than a year. Some children were even terrified of another child touching them.

“As if our youth needed another reason not to develop face-to-face relationships – our world became an online existence overnight. More than ever before, we need to encourage this generation to put down their devices and re-learn face-to-face communication before it is too late.

“This song will touch the hearts of everyone who was impacted by Covid-19 in any way.  We need more positivity in the world and we want our song to be that little piece of hope which will bubble up inside you and wipe away your tears.”

The music and lyrics were written by Lydia while the song was arranged and produced by Jason, who also filmed and edited the video. 

According to Jason, Lydia was the project director as well as the brains behind the story and screenplay. The students, from St. Christopher’s School, The British School of Bahrain, The French International School and Nadeen School amongst others, were either auditioned or invited to take part.

The music video, spanning four minutes and 28 seconds, is already out on streaming platforms including iTunes and Amazon as well as on their YouTube channel Carters Live, and according to Jason, is more than just a song.

“It is a song, a story, a music video, a film and a humanitarian, arts educational project, all rolled into one,” said Jason, a musician and filmmaker.

“At a time when we have each felt isolated and disconnected, we can all understand the human need for connection all the more. We want to give our young people the opportunity to reconnect and unite as a creative force for the future.

“We propose to run workshops in countries, cities, towns and villages with organisations, community centres, schools and government bodies who share our passion to enthuse and inspire young people to seek face to face connection and integration. This is our pilot song and music video, which was filmed on location in Bahrain, and we have three more planned for the UK, the UAE and France.

“We are planning to create new videos and new versions of the song with other children, schools and communities around the world. 

“This is a project about kids, for kids and we hope that this song will be sung around the world to inspire our children and young people to rekindle their hope and step into their destinies.”

In addition, with the money raised from the sale of the song, they will take these projects to those communities around the world that would never get the chance to be involved in such a project. 

They are currently working on several other projects too, including online performances for care homes and the elderly, several film projects, songs and music videos and a new livestream concert series which will start soon.  

For details, follow @togetherwerisekids on Facebook and Instagram and @together_we_rise_kids on TikTok.