Lucy Gray (activist) explained

Lucy Gray
Nationality:New Zealand
Occupation: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

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

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, 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.[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. She is the author of "Rise up", a climate change protest anthem.[22]

Music

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).

Notes and References

  1. News: Lucy Gray – leader, climate change activist, schoolgirl. Stuff. Paul. Gorman. en. 26 May 2019.
  2. News: Protesting students should be seen and heard. Stuff. The Dominion Post. en. 26 May 2019.
  3. Web site: 28 December 2019. When your child becomes a climate activist. 21 June 2020. Stuff. en.
  4. Web site: Cerith Wyn Evans's Things are conspicuous in their absence.... 21 June 2020. christchurchartgallery.org.nz.
  5. Web site: Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery Newsletter 27th August 2021. 27 August 2021. Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery.
  6. News: Cashmere High students on show at Ted talk event . 27 October 2020 . . 7 September 2019.
  7. News: Gorman. Paul. Lucy Gray and the Prime Minister compare notes on climate change. en. Stuff. 26 May 2019.
  8. Web site: Meet the team. 21 June 2020. School Strikes NZ. en.
  9. Web site: Feature – NewTracks New Artist: Lucy Gray . 13 March 2024 . NZ Musician . en.
  10. Web site: Lucy Gray Releases 'Pretty' . 13 March 2024 . www.muzic.net.nz.
  11. Web site: Lucy Gray Unveils Debut EP, whole life waiting NZ Music Commission . 2024-07-27 . en-AU.
  12. Web site: Lucy Gray - Album Review: whole life waiting - New Zealand Music Articles . 2024-07-27 . www.muzic.net.nz.
  13. Web site: Claire Booker . 27 September 2019 . Christchurch School Strike 4 Climate attracts thousands . 20 June 2020 . Star News.
  14. News: Isaac McCarthy . Oct–Nov 2019 . Signs of Change in Canterbury . 20 June 2020 . Latitude . 67.
  15. Web site: Sam Wat . 12 May 2020 . Covid-19 puts school climate strike online . 20 June 2020 . Te Waha Nui.
  16. Web site: Jenner . Brooke . 23 May 2019 . Students' laid-back preparation for climate change action . 20 June 2020 . RNZ . en-nz.
  17. Web site: Katie Tozer . 31 May 2019 . National Young Leaders Day . 20 June 2020 . Hornby High School.
  18. Web site: Festival 2019 . 20 June 2020 . Festival for the Future.
  19. Web site: Lucy Gray . 20 June 2020 . TEDx Youth@Christchurch.
  20. Web site: 24 January 2020 . Degrees Live! Christchurch . 20 June 2020 . 1.5 Degrees Live.
  21. Web site: Amber Allott . 28 October 2020 . Christchurch teen activist to play starring role in nationwide climate talks . 28 October 2020 . Stuff.
  22. Web site: Brittney Deguara . 24 May 2019 . Rise Up: Young climate change activist's anthem for student strikes . 20 June 2020 . Stuff.
  23. Web site: Rising Star Lucy Gray Shares Next Offering 'paranoia of the mind' . NZ Music Commission . 6 May 2024 . en-NZ.
  24. Web site: The Official New Zealand Music Chart . 6 May 2024 . THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART . en.
  25. Gray . Lucy . Lucy Gray Drops Last Single Before EP . Scoop News . 6 May 2024.
  26. Web site: Emerging Young Artist Lucy Gray Releases Heartfelt Single, 'Not Fair' . Artist News . NZ Music Commission . 13 March 2024.

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