This contribution to the Artists 4 Freedom project (organised by @fjfonseca of PublicSpaces) has been a long and at times, emotional, journey.

It’s the first true collaboration I’ve done and my sense of responsibility to the track’s featured artist has been strong. There are still many aspects which I’d like to improve, but I’ve felt recently that constant “tweaking” was having a negative impact.

Background

Having put together the basic idea for the track, I sent a link through to Fernando (11 July) and he immediately suggested vocals. Later that day I placed the following ‘advert’ on Twitter:

Desperately seeking: FEMALE FARSI SINGER for modern take on traditional Persian piece. #MFF #iranelection

This was picked up and re-tweeted by a couple of people including @JCLemay. I received a reply within the hour (via JC) from Shadi Angelina and sent her a link to the work in progress. She very kindly agreed to get involved and from then on I’ve been revisiting and refining this track whilst working on other pieces such as Separate.

The lyrics – and hence the title – are from The Wind Will Take Us by Forough Farrokhzad.

The Wind Will Take Us

In my small night, ah
the wind has a date with the leaves of the trees
in my small night there is agony of destruction
listen
do you hear the darkness blowing?
I look upon this bliss as a stranger
I am addicted to my despair.

listen do you hear the darkness blowing?
something is passing in the night
the moon is restless and red
and over this rooftop
where crumbling is a constant fear
clouds, like a procession of mourners
seem to be waiting for the moment of rain.
a moment
and then nothing
night shudders beyond this window
and the earth winds to a halt
beyond this window
something unknown is watching you and me.

O green from head to foot
place your hands like a burning memory
in my loving hands
give your lips to the caresses
of my loving lips
like the warm perception of being
the wind will take us
the wind will take us.

Forough Farrokhzad
Translated by Ahmad Karimi Hakkak

Huge thanks to Shadi Angelina for her wonderful vocals and to @Pure_Tone for mastering.

The Wind Will Take Us by Kieron James and Shadi Angelina