UKRAINE 22 - M1317

NICKSTIR

Composed and arranged in response to Russia invading Ukraine in early February 2022. Close your eyes. Listen. Tanks coming towards you. I wanted to create th Epic sound of an orchestra as it ebbs and flows in the sound of war.

FEAR...

February 2022 I stood in an ice arena, a long time since I'd been in this space, part of my history. I spoke to

Composed and arranged in response to Russia invading Ukraine in early February 2022. Close your eyes. Listen. Tanks coming towards you. I wanted to create th Epic sound of an orchestra as it ebbs and flows in the sound of war.

FEAR...

February 2022 I stood in an ice arena, a long time since I'd been in this space, part of my history. I spoke to and clapped for Ukrainians. And I missed my Russian friends of long ago. Deep. We are at war. And I feel I am at war with ‘You can’t say that,’ the ever changing dictate of what is acceptable to say as 'someone' decides they wish to be addressed in a certain idiom. The child stamps their feet and the adult gives them what they want.

Then suddenly I’m attacked on Twitter out of the blue. Hmmm.. Then I didn't turn my commentary mic off after nine and a half hours live. A comedy club joke caught out of context and posted on Twitter. I'm one of two bad men on Twitter and International News feeds taken off air. Two days later publicly sacrificed to the Corporate God of…? Media Management and being inclusive?

Strange times. Context. Dialogue. Seeking understanding, forgiveness and respect?Absent. Journalism rather than PR and Propaganda? No recourse, News cycle’s moved on? Interesting experience as people 'react.' In their fear? The aggressor feted and apologised to and graciously accepting those apologies. The bad men slandered forevermore. Wikipedia site added to by a contributor...

How do we deal with this? Who is the adult? Who is the controller? Who plays the victim card? What is that? A book to come called KILLING BIRDS.

The photo? The war museum in Paris - I went there directly after this experience and thought it was apt to spend an afternoon looking at and thinking on War...

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UKRAINE 22 - M1317 3:58

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DONALD AND THE BUTTON OF DEATH

MUDATHEWALL

March 23 - As Donald Trump came to power I was afraid. Of what? Of a liar, a deceiver, a man with a team brilliant at shaking the reality of what is true. A narrative modelling and fostering that you can become President by attacking consistently and being adept at killing your opponents with words?

Is he a bully, narcissist? Is he an employer of

March 23 - As Donald Trump came to power I was afraid. Of what? Of a liar, a deceiver, a man with a team brilliant at shaking the reality of what is true. A narrative modelling and fostering that you can become President by attacking consistently and being adept at killing your opponents with words?

Is he a bully, narcissist? Is he an employer of tactics that preclude the truth and honourable debate? He was the King of the soundbite and title tattle story. The King Tweeter winning the headlines with stories that shock and demand our daily attention. A winner in the ratings war. The master of the calling you names across the playground, a media star using his skills to scare us and get his way.

So this song was written. It asks questions because, at that stage, we did not know how it would work out? And yet, many of the policies enacted behind the chaos were sound in my eyes. And the front man promotes toxicity, division, and breaking of the system. Which in some ways needs to be parred to what it was supposed to be and do - serve... He stands against the hordes of inclusivity activists who promote their agree and cow tow to what we say or die message. 'Inclusivity,' a misnomer.

Since those days the sentiments of the writer have not changed, the sentiments of the performer neither. They question the way the man behaves in the public sphere.

Our stand is for debate, seeking of understanding, honour and serving the public good. Of standing alongside those we may disagree with and still helping out when someone's in need. Rather than being behind a wall throwing grenades over.

CREDITS

Track : DONALD AND THE BUTTON OF DEATH Words and Music: © 2016 NICKY SLATER - Nicholas Mark Slater Socan 8601895, SESAC Vocals: MARCUS ULYSEES DARWIN (MUDATTHEWALL) Bkg Vocals: CHRISTIANE SLATER Backing Vocals, Guitar, Arrangement, Synths - ANDREW SMITH - https://andrewsmithmusic.com Drums - ZACH SMITH - http://www.zacharismith.com Produced, Mixed and Mastered at Lake Studios, Kelowna & Montreal 2017 - lakestudios.ca Photo: © 2018 CHRISTIANE SLATER Artwork: NICKSTIR

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DONALD AND THE BUTON OF DEATH 4:13

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