Half The World, the new single of Dutch-Australian duo The Night Ships, is a song drawing together different melodic and rhythmic elements from countries across the globe, resulting in a beat-driven anthem that will lodge itself in your bones. The bass was recorded in South Africa, and the sitar, tar and percussion were recorded just off the Naqsh-e Jahan square in Iran. Translated, its name means “half the world”, and points to the city of Isfahan’s majesty and beauty, as well as the population’s joyous underground celebration of music and dancing. In the same way, the contributors to the song, which include a choir of singers from The Netherlands, the US, Canada, Uruguay, France, England and Ireland, a violinist from Chile, and stunning album artwork from an Australian designer, round off the song’s global reach.

The lyrics of the song are a call to action to women in all countries – and to men – to combat the tyranny of violence, oppression and discrimination that women face every day as half of the world’s inhabitants. It is also a tribute to the work of women, past and present, who strive together to change the world, and to make it a place where men and women in all countries can experience equal rights, opportunity and status. Half the World is a warning that the future itself is bound to change, and that such change is inevitable. As a song with sweeping harmonies, sumptuous strings, and a driving beat, you won’t be able to stop at one listen…

Half The World is released this week on BERT Music (a division of TCBYML) and available for purchase/streaming on all known digital platforms.