The Polish Ambassador Calls for Social Change with Permaculture Action Tour

The Polish Ambassador has gained a cultural following not unlike certain artists of the past, but the widespread admiration for this jumpsuit-clad character was earned through efforts rarely pursued amongst electronic artists today. To be sure, a clever brand of EDM which fuses genres and pushes boundaries has secured David Sugalski’s alter-ego a venerated place in the dance music landscape, but what has garnered more respect is his penchant for global change. His latest endeavor, aptly named the “Permaculture Action Tour” upholds Sugalski’s mission to use music at a catalyst for community action.

According to the tour’s website, permaculture is the practice of “living in a balanced way on the earth; of designing relationships of mutual support between people and the ecosystems we inhabit. The idea behind the Permaculture Action Tour is to give back to cities along the way by holding “action days” following each show. Sugalski and his team coordinated with community organizers to arrange workdays at local farms or gardens, and encourage concert-goers to join them in hands-on, grassroots projects. By doing this, Sugalski aimed to inspire fans to lead sustainable lifestyles by playing an active role in each of their respective communities.

At the recent Polish Ambassador show at Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium, WhiteRaverRafting had the opportunity to experience the Permaculture Action Tour in full by attending not only the concert, but also the following action day. Polish and his touring partners delivered phenomenal performances, each one unique, yet cohesive to the overall sound of the tour. Hypnotizing the crowd with dramatic vocals and intermittent prose was songstress Ayla Nereo, who utilized her performance platform not only to entertain the audience, but also to spread the message of nurturing the world we live in for the benefit of future generations. Nereo’s harmonious melodies and poetic storytelling transported the audience into a higher state of consciousness.

Pushing Through the Pavement is a collaboration-centered album featuring a broad spectrum of vocalists and instrumentalists. Hip-hop artist Mr. Lif, who joined the Polish Ambassador on stage for most of the show, provided an interesting contrast to the electronic vibe by incorporating rap on a number of tracks, most notably on “Let the Rhythm Just,” also featuring Ayla Nereo. Mr. Lif’s powerful lyrics elevated the energy in the crowd, heightening the experience for all of those present.

Honing in on his forte of delivering a funky dance party to every crowd he plays for, the Polish Ambassador served up his signature blend of electro-pop to an eager Fillmore audience. Memorable moments included his live rendition of upbeat hits such as “Vision Fiberoptics” and “No Diggity,” as well as slower-paced, emotive tracks, like “Sri Gurvastakam.” It’s always refreshing to feel as if the performer on stage is truly connecting with the audience, and there was no lack of that sentiment between Sugalski and the Fillmore crowd that evening.

To gain a greater understanding of what Sugalski was trying to achieve with the Permaculture Action Tour, we felt compelled to visit one of the action day sites the following morning. The Warren Tech High School garden had been unused for five years when James Douglas, farm manager for the Squeaky Bean’s Sparkle Acre, was given permission to resurrect it. At the time of our visit, Douglas and a team of individuals were working to build A-frame levels, a primitive technology which uses the center of the mass of the earth to calibrate a center point and determine a flat surface. Using the A-frames, Douglas hoped to identify contour lines where he could build swales, or low tracts of land developed to manage water runoff. The idea was to collect rainwater before it created a giant gully, and instead use it to feed the garden and surrounding fruit trees.

Several groups would benefit from the revival of the garden, Douglas explained. A collaboration with engineering students from the nearby Red Rocks Community College, for instance, would eventually result in an overflow pond for the system, so that when the area receives rain, the water can be collected into a useable source to pump into the garden.

In the spirit of local sourcing, all of the food grown in the garden would benefit surrounding businesses and schools, Douglas said. The garden is incorporated into curriculum for both culinary students and STEM students at nearby schools, and local restaurant The Squeaky Bean also sources food grown by Douglas for their kitchen. As we learned about all of the different ways that the garden would affect the surrounding community, the mission of the Permaculture Action Tour became more clear.

By bringing awareness to the ideals of permaculture and sustainable living, Sugalski is going above and beyond his role as a musician and, inadvertently, setting an example of how people of notoriety should wield their public personas to improve society. The Permaculture Action Tour uses music to inspire change, and successfully did so as it traveled across the country. Starting in Northern California, the tour visited 32 different cities and 18 states to spread the message of permaculture. Thousands of fans across the United States participated in action days, effectively making a difference in the communities they live in. Though the tour is over, the Polish Ambassador and his team continue to organize permaculture action nationwide. To learn more about their efforts and to get involved, please visit the tour website.

 

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