Arts / Unst provides ‘life changing’ inspiration for Spanish musician
A SPANIARD who found solace in Unst during a tough time in his life has released a song inspired by Shetland’s most northerly island.
Arthur Whist visited Unst in 2014 and said it was a “truly a life changing experience” as he reconnected with nature – and at the same time, with himself.
The musician sought to pay tribute to the island in the way he knew best – though song, and the track Unst is now available online.
The calming tune sees Whist provide emotional vocals and piano, with string sounds added on top too.
“Unst is a peaceful jazz/cinematic song about reconnecting with nature and the important things in life in an increasingly chaotic and stressed society which seems to have lost its way,” he told Shetland News.
The musician, from Valencia, said he was going through a tough personal time back in 2014.
“In an attempt to escape from my own harmful thoughts, fears and insecurities, I decided that I needed to get some fresh air and travel to the most remote place I could find in my map,” Whist said.
“I always wanted to travel to Scotland, as I think it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, so when I spotted a distant archipelago between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea called the Shetland Islands, I instantly knew that was going to be my destination.”
He explained that after a couple of days travelling he went as far north as he could and he ended up in Unst – “falling in love with the place” as soon as he set foot off the ferry.
“Somehow, I felt a very strong and deep connection with that beautiful land, as if I had been there before, as if I belonged to that place,” Whist recalled.
“It is very hard to explain, but something changed inside me, it did forever, I could clearly feel that there was something way bigger than my rational understanding going on there.”
He spent a number of weeks in Unst, exploring, taking long walks and observing the wildlife.
“It was a time for me to deeply reconnect with nature and myself,” Whist said.
“I went there trying to get lost and I ended up finding myself.”
He added that he made two promises – to return to Unst, which is still on the to-do list, and also to talk about his experience.
“I hope that this song can help other people who are struggling and going through a tough moment in life and bring them some hope and peace,” Whist said.
“I don’t know if I was able to capture the beauty and magical energy of such an amazing island in a song, after all, I’m just a Valencian guy who just fell in love with a distant place miles away from his hometown.”
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