South African singer and songwriter Anke Richards creates music that feels like the ocean: vast, emotional, and always in motion. Her compassion extends to a deep connection with animals and her belief that one of the most important tasks we have as humans is to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. This belief is at the heart of her collaboration with Sea Shepherd.
For Anke, the ocean has always been more than a symbol. It is a living force that mirrors the cycles of emotion and renewal that shape her life and art. “There’s something about the ocean that feels alive, ancient, and misunderstood,” she says. “It holds both chaos and calm. It reflects everything we are, and everything we stand to lose.”
Her latest release, Another Realm, was written from a place of longing — for connection, for balance, and for a world that feels out of reach yet still worth fighting for. “The song is about searching for something bigger than yourself,” she says. “To me, it also speaks to our relationship with the ocean. It feels like another realm entirely, full of life and mystery, but we’re losing our connection to it. I wanted the song to remind people that what feels distant is still a part of us.”
“The song is about searching for something bigger than yourself, our relationship with the ocean. It feels like another realm entirely, full of life and mystery, but we’re losing our connection to it. I wanted the song to remind people that what feels distant is still a part of us.”
– Anke Richardson
To turn that message into action, Anke is donating 100% of the royalties she makes from Another Realm to Sea Shepherd in support of their mission to defend, conserve, and protect marine life across the globe. She also encourages her supporters to pay attention to the cause and donate if they feel moved to do so. Through this partnership, she hopes to inspire deeper awareness and care for the world beneath the surface. “Music can’t change the world by itself, but it can make people feel why it’s worth saving.”
Currently working closely with Grammy and BMA-nominated producer Dante Lattanzi on her debut EP, Anke continues to explore the intersection between human emotion and the natural world. Each song is part of that ongoing conversation, a way of reconnecting with something ancient, raw, and alive before it slips too far away.