Pete Lawrence - Songs of Hope and Connection album

Aim: To help bring 'This Is The Fire' to life - new songs uniting voices for social change

Hello. My mission in life, as an activist, pacifist and catalyst is about bringing people together and finding our voices. That's why I am very excited to be launching 'This Is The Fire' as an album and hope you will support the realisation of this dream.

In an age marked by division and disconnection, collective singing is more vital than ever. It reminds us of what it means to be human: to raise our voices in harmony, to listen deeply, to come together around a shared vision. 

Much empowerment (both individually and collectively) has come from building community and facilitating an environment where optimism can flourish and where social change can happen. That is the primary focus of my first album in two decades, a community-powered record that is bringing together songs of hope, of inspiration, of protest, of heart connection and of universal love. 

It's worth remembering that moments of change are often fuelled by song.

Why am I doing this?  Because I wholeheartedly believe in the power of music to change the way we see the world and because I am really excited by the new songs I have written. They are songs designed to be sung in community, some of which we have already unveiled at our Campout last year.

As Brian Eno famously said "Singing together is the key to world peace". There is an indefinable quality to the buzz we can all feel when in glorious song with others, each playing our part but creating harmony together. It's a great starting point in establishing common ground, imagining the changes we need to be making to find hope and inspiration through connection and through finding our voices, individually and collectively.

What will it look and sound like?

Check the video above for the demo version of the title track. This, along with the other songs I have written, some in collaboration, will be crafted by a talented producer with quality musicians and voices (including my own) to bring joy to all ages and genres. 

This will be an album perfectly suited to the times. It's a strong calling for me, to release into the world a collection of songs that ask how we re-write our own future. The songs are written; we just need the funds to transform them from demos into the full production that they deserve.

Here is a track by track preview:

How it came about

In today’s divided world, where are the universal anthems?  There is a sense that new songs of hope and empowerment are needed more than ever, when we consider the impact of classics such as 'We Shall Overcome', 'This Land Is Your Land', 'Blowin’ in the Wind' and 'If I Had a Hammer'. 

These weren’t just soundtracks to activism; they were tools of resistance, uniting voices in community, on marches and at gatherings. The voices of hope, justice, connection and vision were led by the likes of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Joan Baez, The Weavers and Peter, Paul and Mary and we're still singing their anthems now.. 

Even before the current wave of interest in protest music, sparked in part by the Bob Dylan biopic, I was thinking, could we be on the verge of a new era of communal singing? Could the next great protest song emerge not from a recording studio, but from the voices of a crowd, in the streets or around a campfire?

Then, after hearing the voice of Gitika Partington and her delightful album 'All The Bees' - recorded with Kirsty McGee - I immediately knew that I would love to write and sing some community-led songs with her. By the summer, Gitika was leading some stirring group singing sessions at last August's Campout and it was thrilling to hear our new songs 'This Is The Fire', "If I Had a Voice' and 'Bubble of Love' in this social context.

Inspired by this, I enrolled on a song-writing course in January with Brian Eno. He surprised and delighted me with a homework task to write a song of revolution, a song that that asks 'What future do I want for the world?" This was a perfect example of synchronicity. 

What difference will it make?

Protest music comes from the heart and the times we live in. We need to reinstate songs which provide a visceral response. Reclaim ‘Kumbaya’ from the cynics, taken back from the cynics, dreaming a new world into being through song. 

So the calling is to craft this album of multi-purpose simple and timeless melodic pieces rooted in a hymnal folk tradition, songs intended for everybody to sing that can work in a variety of settings. The perfect antidote to a fragmented world.

Production

I believe Gerry Diver is uniquely positioned to deliver a high quality album using his far reaching experience of working with artists such as Tom Robinson, Shane McGowan, Christy Moore, DJ David Holmes and Sam Lee. Gerry produced his partner Lisa Knapp’s debut album 'Wild & Undaunted' which won Mojo Magazine’s Folk Album of the Year and their first release as a duo, Hinterland (2025) received rave reviews in The Guardian and elsewhere. 

His passion for creating alchemy in the studio mirrors my own and he brings a expansive palette of sounds alongside his versatile use of multiple instruments that spans cultures, genres and eras. I know he will deliver an exceptional product.

What will it cost?

• £2000  Paying musicians
• £10000 Production/Recording/mastering costs
• £2000 Promotion, optimisation, support costs
• £500 Artwork/layout
• £500 Reward production/postage costs 
• £1300 Crowdfunder fees

TOTAL £16300

What happens if we exceed our initial target? 

£16300 covers our basic costs, any additional money will be used to promote the album to a wider audience and any surplus will be invested in the Campfire community, where most of my time (and other team members) is voluntarily invested.

When will it be released?

We're hoping to have the album released in spring 2026 with a single out before Christmas.

WHAT TO DO NOW

To bring all of this together, we require your help to fund it. I passionately believe that the time is right for the message of 'This Is The Fire' to be put out into the world, to create a wave of smoke signals, a new generation of uplifting songs of hope that tap into a rich lineage of protest and connection, universal songs that can be sung with optimism in community, around the fire, at home, in the assembly hall, on the terraces and in the streets.

One of our rewards is an exciting opportunity to Back a Track (see video above). Select the song title that you like the sound of and receive a personal thank you on the album artwork.

I hope you like the reward options. If you prefer, you can simply make a donation. 

I believe that together we really can make a difference. 

We'd love you to share this initiative with your friends.

This is the Fire to Gather Round

Standing Together on Common Ground

Sharing the Beacon, We Light our Lands

Joining Our Hearts, We Join our Hands

Pete Lawrence Track Record

Music has been a central part of my life and it's often described as the universal language. It connects people on an emotional level more effectively than any other means. That's why it has always been so resonant for me. My own journey into music started with playing drums and joining several bands in my hometown of Leamington Spa and also at University. After moving to London and working in record retail and distribution, I set up the Cooking Vinyl label in 1986 the first album I produced was a highly unusual mould-breaker, a spontaneous cassette field recording of an unknown singer-songwriter made at a festival in the Texas hills around the campfire which went on to sell around a million copies.

Then followed The Big Chill festival in 1994. In recent years I've been putting my efforts into a voluntary community project - Campfire Convention. In recent times, my priority has been to put my energy into successfully creating communities of people based around enjoying music as well as looking at reimagining the world we live in and the legacy we leave for the generations after us.

My website

“Pete's ability to predict our cultural and media future were brilliantly manifested by the success of the Big Chill. It is a pleasure to recognise him as the inventor of such a major movement as the chill out scene. His cultural impact has crossed all international borders and is still in style worldwide. Over the years I've always looked to Pete for his profound knowledge of all things cool and elegant. His large fan base of tastemakers also reflects his quiet sense of integrity. Pete has always led the way, and many of us joyously follow him. He is a genuine visionary who has had a colossal impact on us all.” 

Erica Ruben, Former Executive Producer of Central Park Summer Stage, New York

“Pete Lawrence has a knack for being just a few key steps ahead of everyone else. When he started Cooking Vinyl, he didn't follow trends but anticipated them. More so when it came to creating The Big Chill, the event that set the stage for what became an international chillout music movement that lasts to this day. Along with all this is an ethic that works towards collaboration, bringing people together and networking. I am not alone in looking keenly forward to what’s coming next. With such a track record, You can be sure whatever he does will be worthy of interest. And maybe, yet again, emulation.” 

Gerald Seligman, Ex Director of WOMEX and advisor to the UNESCO Creative Cities initiative

“Pete Lawrence is a legend. In addition to his not inconsiderable DJing & producer skills, he has a gift for bringing together lovely people and creating something really special.” 

Mr Scruff, DJ

"Pete and Katrina put their heart and soul into The Big Chill - an event that we all loved and became part of the fabric of British life for many, many years"   

Norman Jay, DJ and broadcaster

Let's make this happen. Donate now! 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 17th August 2025 at 8:00pm