(Left: Nic
Paton)
“We are all in grief; this music can bring
relief. All download sales of “Valley Of
The Shadow” during April 2020 go to two crisis response charities in Italy
and South Africa.”
So announces Nic Paton, a composer and a
social and interspiritual activist living in Cape Town. He has released over 30
albums, including Valley Of The Shadow –
Rites Of Loss in 2016, which he re-launched on Good Friday, April 20, 2020.
Paton now based in Cape Town studied at
UKZN music department is the grandson of esteemed author Alan Paton.
The project is a response, both locally and
globally, to the coronavirus pandemic. This may have peaked in certain parts of
the world, but is on the ascendancy in South Africa, where he is socially
active (within the constraints of lockdown). Also connected to this initiative
are the people of Italy, which is one of the most devastated nations due to the
pandemic.
Valley
of the Shadow, conceived and produced by Paton, is
an eclectic suite for strings and voices. It explores the universal narratives
of loss through moods like denial, bargaining and anger, resolving through
depression to acceptance.
Paton has created a nine-track album - an
eclectic, interdisciplinary suite for a string quartet, choir and vocals, with
a companion video. The music reflects his intrinsically personal journey into
understanding the many guises of loss which has become centre stage as a result
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“All sales on Bandcamp for the rest of
April will be donated to two charities: Speccio dei Tempi - Mirror of the times
in Italy and Home Of Compassion Ministries in my hometown, Cape Town, South
Africa,” said Paton.
Valley
of the Shadow – Rites of Loss is available on
independent artist download site Bandcamp as well as Spotify and Apple Music.
Website: nicpaton.com/valleyoftheshadow
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