Musician: Nat Keen (guitar, vocals)
It was the day for the big reveal! Track 3 on Big J’s album had just been completed and now was the moment to play it to him for the first time! Jane and Thom (Spitz director and GM) were keen to be there to catch his reaction and had joined me on the ground floor to celebrate. They told me that when they arrived at Bridgeside that morning, Big J was playing his previous hit “Why Does Love Hurt So Much” on his iPad. It’s great to think that music is still being absorbed by residents, even when Spitz musicians aren’t there.
As the opening bars of the intro commenced, J seemed a little confused, “what’s this? I don’t recognise it” but as soon as he recognised his voice, it all came flooding back and he launched into performance mode, not only recalling every single lyric but improvising upper body dance moves and gesticulations to peak his growing audience’s engagement. I’m starting to think that in order for Big J to really grow his music, we need some eye catching music videos……I’m sure there’s somebody out there with the skills and ideas for a collaboration, get in touch, we can make it happen!!
Let’s rewind back a little, about 30 mins to be precise. Before all of the commotion of Big J’s track release on the ground floor, I had been making music with two Spitz regulars on the second floor. According to Jane, AS had been looking forward to a musical visit and when I arrived at her door she was mid-manicure, being pampered, joking and chatting away with her visitor. I was quickly ushered in to join the party and was energised by AS’s infectious cheerfulness. This is how I picture AS back in Barcelona in the 60s, full of joyful socialising, music, sunshine and abundant life! …AS invited Jane and Thom to join us and began flapping her hands around so as to dry her nails quickly and provide me with some flamenco hand clapping rhythm whilst shouting out encouraging phrases….’Ole Pepe!!, Venga! Pepe, Pepe!!!” (She has decided that my Flamenco name is Pepe). Although Islington is no Barcelona, we got about as close as we could and, although my Spanish is lacking somewhat, I could hear her repeating….
‘Me trae mucha Alegria’ (it brings me lots of joy)
Another resident who has been enjoying our musical visits lately is SR who has particularly benefited from 1 to 1 sessions in her room where she feels much more comfortable to express herself. In the last two weeks we’ve been able to talk for the first time about what music means for her, her interpretation of folk song lyrics and our mutual affinity for melancholic melodies….which reminds me, I need to learn some more uplifting repertoire! After joking together about my rather sombre songlist, we dipped into some Bob Marley classics which concluded our session with a welcome taste of summer.
