Disco Can Save the World

New-wave icon Debbie Harry shares her hopes and fears for the environment, as well as her views on today’s music scene, with Felicity Harrison

How did you become interested in sustainability and environmental responsibility?
My interest has grown over time. Its importance is more apparent to everybody now, and there are ways we can do the right thing.

Where should we focus our energies?
Travel emissions are a big problem. Mexico City is one of the most polluted places I have been to. Also aeroplanes and jets polluting at such a high altitude is dangerous. I have travelled a lot – if we have the technology to fly, surely we can introduce better technology to make it safer?

Have you travelled to many remote natural destinations?
I have been to some wonderfully undeveloped areas. Norway is pristine – stunning and sparkling. New Zealand was very exciting – you can be driving through dense forest-jungle and, suddenly, you’ll be at this cliff and an expanse of ocean is right in front of you.

What are some of the environmental causes you support?
I support Riverkeeper, which strives to clean up pollution in rivers all around the world. It’s a fantastic organisation and very successful – it’s done a great job with the Hudson. I also participate in a local group in New Jersey – the Monmouth Conservation Foundation – that works on preserving green spaces.

You once sang that the 21st century was going to be much better for a girl like you. How do you feel about the state of the world these days?
Well, it’s frightening. These days, environmental issues really put a fear deep into my heart but back then people were burning their bras, and I can say I am old enough to have participated in that! There is always something that we concern ourselves with.

When you look back on New York in the Seventies, how do you feel?
It was a great, exciting period creatively. Economically, it was complete devastation for New York City. The city was bankrupt, there were a lot of crumbling buildings, vacant buildings and garbage around. The way this chaos made people respond in the arts was vital. People worked hard at having fun.

Any parallels with right now? Is disco coming back?
I don’t think it’s ever gone away. Which is great. It was one of the things we were very involved in – bringing dancing back to the forefront.

So what was it like being the first female pop icon?
I don’t know if I was! I guess I was one of the first female rock icons. It was a male-dominated industry and record companies were not interested in female artists.

What do you think of the female singers on today’s music scene?
Just look at the charts and see how many female artists are there – it’s wonderful. I listened to Adele the other night. And Lady GaGa is doing great.

Who would you say is today’s Blondie?
Some artists come across as being unique, but many trying to break into the industry are being styled. Now it’s more of a stylist’s game than an individual’s. Of course, some of the styling is great – Lady GaGa wears some cool stuff – but I think it’s gone too far. Everyone is starting to look like drag queens – drag queens don’t even look like drag queens any more!

Advice for anyone starting out in the music business?
I’ve always given the same advice: you have to go beyond passion to the point of obsession because the odds are horrifically against you. You need to be hungry.

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