Releases

The Right to Protest

“Over the past two weeks we’ve seen student protests broken up and driven out by authorities here in the Netherlands.
Around the world The Right to Protest is increasingly under threat as those in power hide behind the cloak of “public unrest” to appease those who keep them in power.

This piece is to show support for those peacefully standing up for what is right, standing against those who try to silence them for not fitting in with their financial & power gains.

We stand with you.
End genocide. Ceasefire now.
Saoirse Don Phalaistín 🍉”

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The music starts in a major key, playful, broken up with moments of discomfort and awkwardness. Showing College life as a time of exploration, finding who you are and trying new things. Finding like minded people and being open to views and conversations that you never have before in a safe space.

As the night falls and the key turns to minor, those put in charge arrive to drive the crowds out. There’s a standoff, with authorities who see force as their first & only reaction, sadly reminding us of the horrific scenes we have witnessed this fortnight.
The music shows a push and a pull which, with politicians and police involved, inevitably builds to violence and the appearance of structure falls apart.

Remember

In June 2020, 14 year old Noah Donohoe went missing down the road from were I grew up in North Belfast. 
He went to the same school I did, hung around the same areas I used to and was cycling to meet friends through one of these areas “that he wasn’t supposed to” and didn’t make it to see his friends. 

What followed was deafening silence from politicians, and nothing from police.

I was living at home during Lockdown, and was reminded of the time during my last visit home. I wasn’t reminded by the media, but by the local people of North Belfast keeping his memory, and fight for justice alive.

This song isn’t about the event. And it doesn’t focus on the continuing silence of those in power. It’s about the positive memories those close to Noah have about him and how the people of Belfast came together to look for him as a united community. 
Through streets, parks, day and night, even when the police finally came out to ask them to stop. 

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The music constantly moving, starts upbeat and in a major key. A simple melody as a throwback to childhood. Second half is in a minor key, slightly darker, but still hopeful. Keeping up the movement, a little more unsteady with rhythmic breaks as the community stops to look.

The story doesn’t end in the way it should have, and still continues today. 

The music ending unresolved.

Hospital Wait Lists / Line Their Pockets

In my home province hospital waiting lists are the worst in Europe. Failed by people put in charge who serve only their own pockets. Supported by a media who are happy to inflate their self-worth. 

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The music is written to a March. To reflect those who are forced to strike against a system that is not set up to support them to help and serve their people. 
It is pushing, driving and attempting to reflect the passion behind their cause. 
Starting as a call, building to more voices who share the passion in a protest against those in power. All voices calling different phrases, but together in Key.

There’s a short olive branch section to open conversation between both parties. 

It moves to a softer section, reflecting politicians using overly pretty and overly inflated language to try and deflect. We can hear the longing for a deal. Not in the best interests of those striking. Never in anyone’s best interests but their own.
Eventually building to a conversation between the voices, politicians repeating the same taglines in unison using thinly veiled attempts to appease. 
We can hear protestors trying to get their words in between short breaks for breath but nothing really breaks through. 

There’s a sense of apprehension when the conversation starts to include both sides. With hints of major key, signalling moments of hope, the conversation grows. But before it can resolve frustration sets in at unacceptable offers of settlement, and the protests begin again.

As always those in power have the final say, protestors are not as privileged and cannot turn their back on those in need for long. The protest calls fade away on deaf ears as the piece ends in a whimper at accepting far from ideal terms and conditions.