"We hear only our own voices,
still echoes returning to our emptiness."
Dejan Stojanovic
Last Friday night, I was deeply sad & heartbroke to hear of the sudden passing
of Dunedin-based (but world-recognised* & widely respected)
singer/composer/musician,
Nick Knox.
You will be so missed, buddy. And by so, so (so!!) many.
Your incredible voice & enviable mastery of the ivories was so wonderfully unique,
primal, other-worldly & vital. To witness you play live... Words can't even begin to
describe the sounds and the chords that you dredged from the
deepest recesses of your fingertips, heart & your soul.
But even rarer, perhaps, was your huge, impressive well of attributes & gifts off-stage.
I was constantly stunned & awed by the deep levels of
patience, compassion, intelligence, humility, grace & humour
that you (constantly, unwaveringly) shared with those in your life that mattered.
You truly saw (and engaged with) the young, blazing (often misunderstood) creatives
that most of Dunedin overlook, avoid or ignore.
You honestly & whole-heartedly connected with them, through (often collective)
highest highs and darkest lows.
It's quite possible that you were the most empathetic & intuitive human
that I've had the pleasure & good fortune to meet.
Ever.
And, above all else, you were a true, genuine (and generous),
always constant gentle-man. I felt honoured to know you.
From my all-too-short three years in Dunedin, I will (now) fondly remember
the long, never dull, late-night/early morning conversations we shared
(usually at 'the Dog'). Your unbridled passion & spirit for all things creative
was an absolute joy to converse and engage with.
And you were fucken wise & intelligent, too.
When I made the difficult decision to move to Oamaru (a decision that most people
in my life at the time didn't understand), you had my back. You got the reasons why.
I won't go into them here. But I'll always love you for that show of support.
I am stunned.
It's only just beginning to sink in.
What a huge, incredibly sad loss...
For Aotearoa. And for the world.
Nick:
Your inimitable talents & your beautiful nature/character
were too brief. Too fleeting.
Thank you so, so much...
For the music, that voice, but also the oh-so refreshing lack of ego!!
Thank you, too, for the precious time you shared with us.
That attentiveness & rare presence.
The strength that comes from vulnerability.
The best bear-hugs!
That smile. And the laughter.
And the kindness. So much kindness.
I love you brother!
Arohanui
(Brent Harpur, 19/2/2021.)
"When great trees fall rocks on distant hills shudder."
Maya Angelou
*Footnote:
During his lifetime, filmmakers
Jan Oliver Lucks & Miranda Bellamy
were commissioned (by the BBC no less!)
to make a short doco about Nick. It is called
"The Characteristics of C-Minor"
and you can view it on-line, here:
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