Canadian Space Agency Astronaut and musician Chris Hadfield and Barenaked Ladies’ Ed Robertson are co-writing the song for Music Monday 2013; officially titled I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing). The song is being commissioned by CBCMusic.ca and The Coalition for Music Education to celebrate music education in schools across Canada. The song will premiere on February 8, 2013 across CBC platforms: CBC-TV, CBC Radio and CBCMusic.ca, with Hadfield performing on the International Space Station and Robertson and the Barenaked Ladies on Earth with a high school choir.

 

In honour of the special song and leading up to the February premiere, CBCMusic.ca will bring fans unique content. Starting in January, CBCMusic will team up with Hadfield and Robertson to produce a series of blog posts, behind the scene photo galleries, and playlists. While the two come together to record the song, Hadfield will send followers video blogs from the space station , providing a behind the scenes view of the collaboration. On the ground, Robertson will show followers an inside look at the studio, explain the song writing process, and discuss the unique relationship between science and music.

 

Hadfield, a veteran of two space shuttle missions, is scheduled to go into space on December 19th, 2012. He will take part in a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), during that time he will become the commander of the spacecraft - a first for any Canadian. In honour of his career, CBC- TV’s THE NATIONAL will air a special documentary on December 17, 2012 featuring an up close interview with Hadfield and CBC News’ Science Correspondent and Host of CBC Radio One’s Quirks & Quarks, Bob McDonald, before Hadfield heads to the International Space Station.

 

To follow along with this unique collaboration please go to www.cbcmusic.ca/space

 

CBCMusic.ca is Canada’s free digital music service. For the casual listener to the hardcore fan, connect with the very best Canadian and International music, concerts, features and other music fans. Simple and easy to navigate, CBC Music gives Canadians access to more than 40 web radio stations, distinct genre-based music communities, plus CBC Radio 2 and CBC Radio 3, content from the most knowledgeable music personalities and programmers from across the country, hundreds of concerts, playlists and more.

 

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus five languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada celebrated 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.

 

The Coalition for Music Education works to raise the awareness and understanding of the role that music education plays in Canadian Culture, and to promote the benefits that music education brings to young people. We envision Canada as a country where the lives of all children are enriched by quality school music programs, and where their active participation in music is valued and supported in our communities. For more information about the Coalition, please visit MusicMakesUs.ca

 

To follow the Coalition’s Music Monday mission, please visit MusicMonday.ca

 

‘Like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @musicmakesus_ca

 

Established in March 1989, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) coordinates all civil, space-related policies and programs on behalf of the Government of Canada and is committed to leading the development and application of space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians. On December 19th, 2012, Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield will launch aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to reach the International Space Station where he will live and work for five months as part of the crew of Expedition 34/35. For more information on the Canadian Space agency, please visit: www.asc-csa.gc.ca

 

 

CBC’s brand new team of in-house publicists are delivering a comprehensive publicity service for all CBC programming and events. For a complete list of publicity contacts and for more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the new CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre

 

Dayna Shiskos

Publicist, CBC

O: (416) 205-7973

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