During These Days is a setting of two powerful poems of Philip Patston and Brent Coutts - two gay poets who write so powerfully about the time. I was so happy to be asked to write this piece from the Glamaphones in celebration of 30 years of homosexual law reform in New Zealand. I remember it clearly as a teenager, and at the time I was so horrified at the realisation that there was so much hatred towards something I was only just discovering in myself.
My music has a sombre feel to it, which may be a surprise in a concert of celebration, but what I needed to offer was a reminder of the hurt that was done; that helpless and desperate times are an integral part of any political struggle – then, for the gay community – and of course, now, for so many other communities. However – it’s not all doom and gloom – the bottom line in this piece is that love conquers all.
