Music saves lives. No matter how cliche that statement might seem, it’s undoubtedly true. For any person dealing with the debilitating effects of ALS, music can be a refuge from the struggles of everyday life. Even with the overwhelming success of the Ice Bucket Challenge, there is still plenty of awareness and work to be done. That’s where Beat ALS Vol. 1 and Machinedrum come into play.
Beat ALS Vol. 1 is an electronic compilation album featuring the likes of Machinedrum, Bassnectar and Nicolas Jaar, among others. The organization was started by Jay Smith, of Livid Instruments, who was diagnosed with ALS himself and is seeking to spread awareness and donations for ALS research.
There might not be a better song to dig into the compilation than Machinedrum’s “Provide.” In traditional Machindrum fashion, “Provide” is sparse, haunting, and eerily beautiful. The vocal samples are angelic and reassuring as the beat continuously builds momentum toward something that’s equally moving and creepy.
You can check the rest of Jay Smith and Every90Minute’s inspiring story over at THUMP and listen to “Provide” below. If you want to support this worthwhile cause, you can buy the compilation album for $10 on the Gravitas Records Bandcamp.