When Music Becomes a Bridge: Jackson Browne’s “Love Is Love” and the Spirit of Global Collaboration
In an era when music increasingly serves as a platform for humanitarian voices, Jackson Browne offered a powerful reminder of that tradition with the song “Love Is Love,” a centerpiece of the collaborative album Let The Rhythm Lead: Haiti Song Summit Vol. 1. The performance, captured in the official video for the single, brings together a small circle of musicians whose shared purpose extends far beyond the studio.
The recording features Browne performing alongside Jonathan Russell, Jonathan Wilson, and Haitian musician Paul Beaubrun. Their understated performance reflects the broader philosophy behind the project. Rather than presenting a traditional rock arrangement, the musicians create a gentle musical conversation that blends North American songwriting traditions with global influences.
“Love Is Love” was written by Jackson Browne with lyrics co written by David Belle. The song stands as one of the central statements of the Haiti Song Summit sessions, an international songwriting collaboration that brought together artists from several musical cultures. Contributors to the project included Beaubrun, Browne, Habib Koité, Jenny Lewis, Raúl Rodríguez, Russell, and Wilson, working in partnership with members of the Haitian roots ensemble Lakou Mizik.
The album was recorded at the Artists Institute in the coastal town of Jacmel, located on the southern coast of Haiti. The setting played an important role in shaping the music. Artists from four different countries contributed their own traditions, creating a distinctive sonic landscape that interweaves indie rock with Haitian Vodou rhythms, Malian guitar phrasing, Spanish musical textures, and the distinctive tones of the flamenco tres. Songs on the album are performed in several languages including English, Creole, Khassonké, Manding, and Spanish, emphasizing the project’s international character.
Beyond its musical achievements, the album was created to support the work of Artists for Peace and Justice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving living conditions in Haiti’s most vulnerable communities. The organization focuses on programs in education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, with the goal of supporting long term development through local partnerships. By investing in schools, community programs, and creative institutions such as the Artists Institute, the organization aims to strengthen opportunity while preserving Haitian culture.
Within this context, “Love Is Love” becomes more than simply another entry in Jackson Browne’s long songwriting career. Instead, it functions as a quiet statement of solidarity. The video captures musicians from different backgrounds gathered in a shared creative space, united by rhythm, collaboration, and a belief that music can connect people across cultures.
For Browne, whose career has long blended artistry with social awareness, the performance stands as another example of how songwriting can serve both musical expression and a broader humanitarian vision. Through “Love Is Love,” the Haiti Song Summit demonstrates how collaboration across borders can produce music that resonates not only aesthetically but also socially.