Shadowplay, the day the clouds parted By Michael Aliani

Shadowplay, the day the clouds parted

(a song that may have changed my life)

By Michael Aliani (chiron / ikon)

I have always had the feeling that I am running out of time. Since I can remember, since I was very young, I have had an understanding that time is marked, that life is short, and that what you expect in life is not always what you get. This may seem a little peculiar for a young child, but a little realistic perspective can never hurt, even at a young age.

With this perspective came the desire to express myself, something we all do in different ways. In my youth this yearning to express myself first came about through a world of fantasy. A youthful imagination is somewhere to get totally lost in. You can be anything you want, do anything you desire in your own mind. This innocent, youthful imagination is something truly wonderful, but alas it does not last forever.

Also during these yearly years I was also introduced to a love of music that my grandmother had for blues and jazz music. She would put these crazy songs on the record player and dance around the house trying to get me to dance with here. Often I would oblige, but most of the time I would run off to go and satisfy my own fantasy world. I didn't really understand my grandmothers passion. Would I ever, or was she just crazy.

With time, the youthful imagination slowly losses it’s power, and more reality based passions begin to manifest to express one’s self. A love of visual art, creative writing, a love of theatre, discovering my fathers vinyl collection all became ways of expressing myself during different periods of my youth.

Time passes, then one day in early 1988 during my final year of high school, a friend Chris asked me to listen to some music on his cassette walk-man. Being the expert on music that I thought I was, I asked who it was. Joy Division was the reply. I had never heard of them. Putting the headphones on Chris pressed play and ‘Shadowplay’ from 'Still' began. I listened to the song to the end, one song only. I had never heard anything like it in my entire life. I hated it. It was unlike anything I had ever heard. It made me feel something that music had never made me feel before, and I wasn’t sure what it was. It challenged me and I could not get it out of my head. It was like a disease, the start of an addiction. Within a few days I had bought my own copy of Still. I soon realised something had changed in me, or so I felt. Ideas, lyrics began popping into my head, and I had no control of it.

Not long after this my friend Chris started a band with another friend Dino. Naturally I thought I was the ideal candidate for the singer they required. This was the start of ‘Death in the Dark’ that later became ‘Ikon’.

I immediately started writing my own lyrics. On the walk home from school an idea would begin. By the time I arrived home a whole song would be completed. I would frantically write it down trying to remember all that had entered my mind on that walk home.

Music has become my way of expressing myself. It becomes a part of who you are, a part of you identity. And yet it is much, much more. You almost don't have a choice. It drives you, and in some ways controls you. And yet it can be so pure. I remember the feeling when we (Death in The Dark) recorded our first original song at a rehearsal on a cassette. I was so excited, so proud of what I had done, what we had done. I still get that same feeling now when I write a new song. That part of music will always be pure to me.

After Ikon, I started Chiron which continues today. It some ways it is the same as it was in beginning. Doing something you love. It doesn't always go exactly to plan, but what does in life.

I now understand my grandmother's passion. She is 86 and her love for music is as strong as ever. I suppose I am just like her, a little crazy. I wouldn't have it any other way.