Afterquake: Songs for Sichuan

American folk singer Abigail Washburn has teamed up with Shanghai Restoration Project producer Dave Liang to create Afterquake, an album of songs put together in aid of Sichuan Quake Relief.

The record uses field recordings and voices from the quake zone itself to create the tracks. It will be released tomorrow to mark the one year anniversary of the earthquake that claimed 88,000 lives. The project hopes to raise awareness of the ongoing efforts to rehouse people effected by the earthquake and a portion of the proceeds from the EP will go to Sichuan Quake Relief. You can listen to the results here.

Washburn has been touring in China for a number of years and played in Sichuan itself in December last year, performing at some of the many relocation schools set up in the wake of the earthquake. Since then she has returned to the area around Wenchuan to work with children, parents and teachers in producing a benefit CD.

The EP is the result of her and long-time collaborator Liang's efforts in the region. NPR recently spoke to the pair about the EP and you can hear the whole interview, together with a preview of one of the tracks, by clicking here.