Lost White Brother

David Symonds on Lost White Brother Category: Music Music is my passion and radio is my mistress. Although the sum total of my musical prowess is three chords in the keys of E, G and C, many of my closest friends are sublime musicians who seem to have forgiven my inability to master an instrument. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to work with some of the very best, although it would be tasteless to name them here.

I met Mike Cherry in 2001 when I was preparing an application to the Cyprus government for a licence to operate an FM radio station. I knew immediately that he was a kindred spirit and he has since contributed immensely to Coast FM's output. The station's mission has always been enshrined in a total commitment to artistic excellence, which makes it very difficult to accommodate local talent. This presents the programmer with a dilemma. On one hand local radio should do everything it can to nurture and encourage local talent. But, on the other, how do you achieve that without compromising output? The problem with models like the French system, where a fixed percentage of local content is mandatory, is that the Pepe Le Pieux Accordion Band ends up next to Phil Collins? which sounds awful. The only local artist to have persuaded me that he can play on the radio alongside maestros of the rock 'n roll pantheon, without embarrassment, is Chris Louvieris. We are not practising any form of musical snobbery here: compare the local scene with recording facilities and budgets overseas and it is hardly surprising that there are no Cypriots in the Hall of Fame.


So I knew Mike and I knew Chris. I am proud to have been the catalyst in bringing these two remarkable talents together. They are both prolific composers, they are multi instrumentalists and they are true musical visionaries. Lost White Brother is Pahana, a deity awaited by Hopi Indians, who is presently hiding amongst the stars. His arrival will be apocalyptic, but when he comes he will not be like the white men we know now, who are cruel and greedy. The Hopis were warned of their coming long ago. But still they await Pahana. So do we all, I guess. Mike came upon this piece of Indian mythology some fifteen years ago and, like Pahana, has been hiding amongst the stars until the opportunity arose to build a musical concept around it. The encounter with Chris Louvieris has provided just that opportunity. Their creative collaboration has taken them on a journey which transcends accepted musical formats and at times suspends listening belief.


And this is just the beginning.

David Symonds