Lucy Gray (activist)
Lucy Gray | |
|---|---|
 Gray in July 2024 during her 'whole life waiting' tour | |
| Born | December 2006 (age 17) |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Occupation(s) | School student Environmental activist Singer-songwriter |
| Known for | School strike for climate |
Lucy Gray (born December 2006) is a New Zealand climate change activist[1][2][3][4] and singer-songwriter.
Biography
[edit]Lucy Gray is a student at the Hagley School of Music in Christchurch, and was previously a student at Ao Tawhiti school,[5] and Cashmere High School.[6] She is a national chairperson of School Strike 4 Climate activities, including marches for school students to join.[7][8] Gray is also a singer-songwriter who released her first single "Your Name" in 2022.[9] Throughout 2023 and 2024 she released singles to build up to her debut EP 'whole life waiting', which was released in July 2024.[10][11][12]
Climate activism
[edit]As part of Gray's advocacy for the climate, three marches were scheduled to happen in 2019, on 15 March (which was abandoned for safety reasons due to the Christchurch mosque shootings), 24 May,[1] and again on 27 September.[13][14] A fourth, indoor protest took place in May 2020, while New Zealand was in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]
In May 2019, Gray met with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to discuss the government's plans to manage the climate change crisis.[7][16] She has spoken at the 2019 National Young Leaders Day,[17] 2019 Festival For the Future,[18] and at TEDx Youth@Christchurch.[19] In early 2020, she was a reader at the 1.5 Degrees Live! event.[20] She will be a keynote speaker at the online 2020–2021 Aotearoa New Zealand Sustainable Development Goals Summit.[21]
Gray names Greta Thunberg, Swedish climate change activist, as one of her role models and inspirations.[1] She is the author of "Rise up", a climate change protest anthem.[22]
Music
[edit]Other than writing the song "Rise Up" (which was not released as a single), Gray has released multiple singles, the most recent of which is "paranoia of the mind", which released on 26 April 2024, and reached number 5 on the Hot NZ Singles Chart.[23][24] "paranoia of the mind" is the last single before the release of her EP.[25]
On 5 July 2024, Gray released her EP "whole life waiting", with funding from the New Zealand on Air New Music Development grant.[26] On this EP is the previously unreleased track "running through my mind". Along with this EP, she announced a tour which had shows in Christchurch (Wunderbar) and Auckland (Big Fan).
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 2022 | "Your Name" | — | |
| 2023 | "pretty" | 19[27] | whole life waiting |
| "coffee breath" | — | ||
| "not fair" | — | ||
| 2024 | "we were the scene" | 15[28] | |
| "paranoia of the mind" | 5 | ||
| "running through my mind" | 9 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Gorman, Paul. "Lucy Gray – leader, climate change activist, schoolgirl". Stuff. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ The Dominion Post. "Protesting students should be seen and heard". Stuff. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ "When your child becomes a climate activist". Stuff. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Cerith Wyn Evans's Things are conspicuous in their absence..." christchurchartgallery.org.nz. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery Newsletter 27th August 2021". Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery. 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Cashmere High students on show at Ted talk event". The Star. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ a b Gorman, Paul. "Lucy Gray and the Prime Minister compare notes on climate change". Stuff. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ "Meet the team". School Strikes NZ. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Feature – NewTracks New Artist: Lucy Gray". NZ Musician. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Lucy Gray Releases 'Pretty'". www.muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Lucy Gray Unveils Debut EP, whole life waiting | NZ Music Commission". Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "Lucy Gray - Album Review: whole life waiting - New Zealand Music Articles". www.muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ Claire Booker (27 September 2019). "Christchurch School Strike 4 Climate attracts thousands". Star News. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ Isaac McCarthy (October–November 2019). "Signs of Change in Canterbury". No. 67. Latitude. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ Sam Wat (12 May 2020). "Covid-19 puts school climate strike online". Te Waha Nui. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ Jenner, Brooke (23 May 2019). "Students' laid-back preparation for climate change action". RNZ. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ Katie Tozer (31 May 2019). "National Young Leaders Day". Hornby High School. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ "Festival 2019". Festival for the Future. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ "Lucy Gray". TEDx Youth@Christchurch. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ "Degrees Live! Christchurch". 1.5 Degrees Live. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ Amber Allott (28 October 2020). "Christchurch teen activist to play starring role in nationwide climate talks". Stuff. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ Brittney Deguara (24 May 2019). "Rise Up: Young climate change activist's anthem for student strikes". Stuff. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ "Rising Star Lucy Gray Shares Next Offering 'paranoia of the mind'". NZ Music Commission. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ Gray, Lucy. "Lucy Gray Drops Last Single Before EP". Scoop News (Press release). Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Emerging Young Artist Lucy Gray Releases Heartfelt Single, 'Not Fair'". Artist News. NZ Music Commission. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Lucy Gray". lucygraymusic.com. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved 13 March 2024.