By Mai Nojima
Circulation Editor
Instead of using the same tactics to continue to advocate against potential oil drilling in Hermosa Beach, Hermosa residents Wais Katubadru and Kevin Sousa employed a new approach, writing an original song titled “It’s Not Right.”
The two started co-writing the song in February with the hope of grabbing residents’ attention through a new outlet for the Keep Hermosa Hermosa campaign, the organization focused on keeping Hermosa “clean, green, safe and beautiful.”
“The oil drilling project is not healthy or safe, and we tried to communicate that in the simplest way possible,” Sousa said. “Music is such a powerful medium to get people to know what is going on.”
The song was recorded and produced in early April. Hermosa Beach resident Mike Sutherland, who also plays the background drums in the song, co-produced the song with Sousa.
“My parents live close to the potential oil drilling site, so when Sousa approached me with the song idea, it was an easy decision for me to work with him,” Sutherland said. “Sousa and I have worked on numerous projects together and have a really good working relationship.”
Other contributors, Tony Gonella, who plays bass, and Jeff Nisen, who plays lead guitar, are a part of the Manhattan Beach-based band Sand Section. Sand Section has been lead singer Sousa’s backing band for numerous occasions and performs all over the South Bay.
“It’s so inspiring to see how our community has come together to rally and fight for the same cause,” Nisen said.
During the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in March, Sousa and Katubadru performed “It’s not Right” on the “Keep Hermosa Hermosa” float. This was the first time the song was played publicly.
“One of the coolest things was that we were able to sing the song while passing through one of E&B Natural Resources offices,” Sousa said. “It was a great experience to perform a protest song that was for the people we are going against.”
The song made its official debut on stage at the Seventh Annual Spyder Festival in April when the band performed it in front of 10,000 people. According to Nisen, the song got positive reviews.
“At the Spyder Festival, the song and Sousa’s speech really demonstrated Sousa’s hard work to raise awareness for this issue,” Nisen said. “I think we conveyed the message to many people.”
Hermosa Beach resident and artist Claudia Berman, who specializes in “modern art with an unusual twist,” designed the cover art for Keep Hermosa Hermosa and donated the piece to the campaign.
The song is currently on sale on iTunes for 99 cents. All of the proceeds will go directly to Keep Hermosa Hermosa.
“We don’t know how much money we have raised yet, but I am hoping that by the end of June a couple thousand copies,” Sousa said. “People that can’t donate a lot of money can buy this song and not only help with the Hermosa Beach oil cause but also get something back in return.”
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