A Look Into the Wonderful Work of Susie Ibarra

I was first introduced to Susie Ibarra through my former job working with an angel investment company based in Washington, DC. Our relationship was strictly business at first but then, as with many artists, we quickly became friends. Upon meeting Susie, I was immediately struck by her quiet nature and thoughtful approach to engaging culture through sound. She is someone who is unconcerned with trends and fads, and comes across as deeply genuine and caring. Both her approach to music and her approach to building relationships resonate with this sense of intentionality. And her work is just the sort of thing that is so needed in our culture today.

Ibarra's recent film project, Song of the Bird King, is no exception. Song of the Bird King is a look into the quieter side of globalization-the dying culture of the Phillipines and their treasured animal species, the Phillipine Eagle. On the one hand, Susie's work with Song of the Bird King is an attempt to highlight the deep, beautiful cultural heritage of the Filipinos, and on the other it is a move to raise awareness on issues of environmental concern. I love the vision and the message that this story carries with it.

Susie Ibarra is an artist that is worth a closer look, although one could easily miss her because she isn't making headlines at the top music blogs or on MTV. I've been a fan of Susie and this project for over a year now, and now the world is finally starting to take notice as well. Ibarra was recently named a TED 2010 Fellow and presented at the February TED Conference in Long Beach. Here's a quote from Ibarra in a recent profile by BusinessWeek:

How exactly do you plan to change the world?

One step at a time, helping to create beauty, spread compassion, engage in cultural dialogue, take action and bring awareness to issues that plague our global community. My collaborative work in music specifically addresses heritage and environmental preservation, creating platforms for Indigenous artists to work in, and outreach to help children and under-served communities.



And changing the world she is, through aurally rich works of art that transcend both place and time in their messages, while simultaneously remaining rooted in Ibarra's own heritage and experiences. Take, as one small example, the trailer below from Song of the Bird King:


Song of the Bird King - Trailer by Song of the Bird King, LLC from Song of the Bird King on Vimeo.

And keep your eyes and ears peeled for a certainly forthcoming TED release about Ibarra.