The Égide Story
Our duo was born from frustration. Frustration with ineffectual politics, ignorant “otherism,” the endless and reckless consumption of limited natural resources, the exploitation and industrialization of animals, and the overwhelming feeling of uselessness we felt against these injustices. We were tired of working 12+ hours a day and still feeling like we were not doing enough. We decided that in order to fight this frustration and consequent bitterness, we would put our efforts (and money) into music with a clear aim to make a difference in the world. We contacted a few composer friends to gauge interest and feasibility of the project. The overwhelming show of support confirmed that we were not alone in our frustration and desire to make a difference.
Finding an appropriate name for our duo proved challenging. We wanted it to reflect our mission without being generic or hokey. While researching possible names, we came across a number of possibilities, one of which jumped out as not only elegant, but particularly suitable. The word égide is French for aegis, which means “the protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization.” It also has ties to Greek mythology. We found the term to be particularly fitting for our duo name since awareness, particularly when that awareness has an emotional connection, can be a foundation for protection. It is our hope that pairing a musical soundscape to a cause may prompt action from our audiences by (1) bringing awareness to the cause and (2) eliciting an emotional response to the cause. Much like how a musical score can manipulate a viewer’s emotional journey through a film, we hope that our repertoire can help our audiences feel an emotional connection to these issues.
Many people have asked us about our logo. The Égide Duo logo was inspired by an article published by NASA in 2012. Using the Van Allen Probes, NASA scientists recorded the audible-range oscillations of electromagnetic radio waves from Earth’s radiation belts, known as the Van Allen Radiation Belts. These radiation belts are created by Earth’s magnetic field deflecting high-energy particles around the planet, many of which are emitted by our sun. Without this protection, these charged particles would likely rip away our atmosphere, making life on Earth as we know it impossible. On our planet, however, it is our duty to identify and draw attention to self-destructive behaviors and find ways to mitigate anthropogenic damage to ourselves, the food chain, and our environment. Otherwise, we will not survive!
Our logo uses the waveform of the radio wave oscillations created by the Van Allen Belts.
It is the sound of Earth protecting itself from the harmful forces beyond our planet. You can listen to it below.
The font is slightly modified Cadogan—it has no symbolic meaning. We just thought it looked cool! By changing the waveform color and fitting the name over it, we had a logo!
We will use this website to share news and ideas on pertinent issues. Please stay tuned for more information, and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns!