“There is an obvious synergy between music-making and sign language: each a set of codified gestures used to communicate an idea, emotion, or concept. As musicians, we often focus on our ears, but what if we were to approach listening as a multi-faceted experience on both practical and philosophical terms? By better understanding sign language, along with the experience of Deaf communities, it is possible to reframe our understanding of what ‘listening’ really is.” In this month’s Casting Light essay, Jasmin Kent Rodgman and Vilma Jackson present their music-film ‘send back the echo,’ which features an adapted screenplay using Beethoven’s memoirs and letters, and offers new ways in which we can ‘listen.’ Watch the full film and read more in I CARE IF YOU LISTEN—link in our bio. #NewMusic #Artists4Equity #CastingLight