Being an astronaut is just not enough
Chris Hadfield releases LP before Massey Hall show
Chris Hadfield’s music has landed on Earth.
The songs the Canadian astronaut recorded in space have been fully orchestrated and will be released as a 12-song album on Oct. 9.
Titled Space Session: Songs From a Tin Can, it documents the experiences of space flight including “Ride That Lightning,” which describes Hadfield’s decision to embark on a third blast-off into space. It is being billed as the first record “off planet.”
That last trip of144 days in 2013 was marked by unprecedented public access to the inner workings of a space station through Hadfield’s use of social media. The highlight was Hadfield’s rendition of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” which has more than 26 million views on YouTube.
Hadfield, who is already a celebrity, says he has no designs on being a rock star.
“I’m not going touring,” laughs Hadfield, who grew up listening to the music of many Canadian artists, including Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Guess Who and BTO.
“Music is an attempt to express a passionate part of yourself. I have a one-man speaking tour and music is a part of that.”
Since his last space flight, Hadfield has written two books, one containing the many photographs he took in space, and continued to promote music and science education wherever possible.
“My mission in life is to contribute to the quality of life for as many people as possible and make it sustainable.”
He sees the world as a wonderful place to explore, whether from the heights of space or the depths of the ocean, where he once conducted experiments and gave back rubs to a 225-kilogram grouper.
“I think arts and science should be in the same part of the newspaper,” he says, citing the example of a beautiful sunset that is experienced both scientifically — as water vapour — and emotionally.
That explains Generator, his eclectic concert on Oct. 28 at Massey Hall, described as a science-based variety show. He’s done previous Generator shows in England involving music, comedy and education, and says comedians can make the purification of water in space “very funny.”
In what is expected to be an annual show, produced in conjunction with creative agency launch*pad, Hadfield hosts and comedian and actor Robin Ince emcees.
Comedian Mark Little, Toronto street band Tupper Ware Remix Party, comedic duo the Templeton Philharmonic and Ontario robotic designers are part of the mix.
The music will include songs from the new album, says Hadfield, who approached Warner Music Canada president Steve Kane about the project when he retired. Producer Robbie Lackritz took the unaltered vocal and guitar tracks and added orchestration in the studio.