Secret Singer-Songwriter Society

With music and philanthropy combined, the Secret Singer-Songwriter Society aims to help the world through the musician's art. JOEP DERKSEN talks to the founder of this non-profit charity.

We all know Live Aid and Band Aid, charity events where well-known musicians sing their songs for one day and then go on with their lives. But now there’s a new initiative set up in The Hague by American singer-songwriter Richard Morris: the Secret Singer-Songwriter Society (S4). He recently set up this Dutch non-profit foundation with which he combines the promoting of singer-songwriters and financially aiding small charity organisations around the globe.

The first project started on 1 March, 2013 where ten international singer-songwriters from five different countries (the Netherlands, Canada, United States, Mexico and Israel) each contributed an original song to the project. Revenue generated by the downloads and merchandise purchased on the S4 website will be equally shared between the artist, the charity (in this case, the Umoja Centre; a small education and empowerment centre located in Arusha, in northern Tanzania) and the foundation.

Music lovers can download the music for any amount they find suitable (starting from 99 cent per track). So musicians from around the world unite for charitable causes and make some money in the process. On the other hand, the donors receive great music in return for their money and can enjoy the songs for years to come. So there are no concerns of having to make long-term commitments of giving; it’s a win-win situation.

So how did Morris, born in Chicago, 1963, come up with this idea? “It was born out of my lifelong involvement with philanthropy and charitable organisations. This goes back to my childhood as my grandparents were founders of an organisation (The Marlene Apfelbaum Memorial Foundation) that raised money for a children’s hospital. I also volunteered at an old age home starting when I was 11. I would read books and newspapers, tell stories and play music to the residents.”

Morris got his first guitar when he was 13 and taught himself how to play. Just like the rest of us, he continued to live his life and his journey took him to the Netherlands, where he is a stay-at-home father and part-time English teacher. But inside of him an unrest grew silently but surely. “I woke up on New Years Day 2013 and I had one of those life changing moments. I realised that I am going to be 50 years old this year and what is my purpose in life? I am a teacher, musician – I’ve raised four children – but still something was missing. I wanted to start making a contribution to society and wanted to combine that with music. And that’s how the idea was born.”

So Morris started the S4 project. He announced his idea to his friends and from then on it spiraled. From all sides he got in touch with singer-songwriters from around the globe and 21 of them have already committed themselves and their music to the initiative. “And they are not at all only aspiring singer-songwriters,” stresses Morris. “Some of them are signed to record labels already, some are students and some do it as a hobby. It’s a mixed bag of artists.”

The first project started for the Umoja Centre in Tanzania and the next series of songs were released on 1 April in support of the City Shine Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya. As always with new projects, the costs precede the revenues, but the interest from music lovers is picking up fast. The S4 will this year be aided by The Hague International Singer Songwriter Festival (THISSFest 2013) and from then on the whole world will know of this initiative, Morris hopes.

Not every charity is good enough for the S4 project. Morris prefers to partner with local charities that are run by individuals as opposed to the larger, corporate style organisations. Morris feels in smaller charities,  less money will go to managers and less people will be in the middle. For these charities a little bit of money can make a huge difference. Indeed, one third of the revenue is going to the foundation, but that share is used to support future projects.

“My goal for this year is to have three or four projects going on at the same time”, Morris adds. “That would be enough for this year. Every project involves ten to twelve different artists.” In the near future, all of the songs will be interpreted by visual artists through a painting, drawing, collage or other creative medium. Those images will be put on t-shirts, coffee cups, posters, etc. When asked if he intends to create a brand out of the S4, Morris replies,  “In a way I do, and another vision that I have is to create the largest online community of singer-songwriters in the world and within five years this should be attainable. I try not to look at things that seriously though. I am passionate about music, singer-songwriters and giving something back to society. I try to help promote our artists and help small charities. It’s not a make or break situation. I love being part of the music and charitable projects.”

For more information, visit  www.secretsingersongwritersociety.org.

(Published in The Holland Times, May edition 2013)