The musical ensemble Lost Cities is a flexible platform that gives me the opportunity to seek out and express my latest adventures in music and culture.

‘Shadows of perception’ comes from the depths of a dream. As is characteristic of these states, it layers meaning upon meaning leaving us free to wander and interpret the symbolism freely. The composition is inspired largely by Attar of Nishapur’s epic poem ‘Conference of the birds’ and loosely follows the form of the poem as the birds embark on a journey which takes them through seven valleys, each representing different states of transformation the birds must undergo on their search for the mythical Simorgh to unify them. In my dream these birds take on the form of birds native to New Zealand as they go in search of a new leader. Attar’s Simorgh is replaced by the Manaia, an important bird like figure from Maori mythology which has the ability to guide and to commune with both the earthly and celestial worlds. Plunging deeper into the dream, we recognise that the birds’ journey begins on Kapiti Island, one of New Zealand’s most important bird sanctuaries, representing one’s place of birth and the shelter of early life. Each valley that the birds must consequently pass parallels phases of a person’s life and concludes with the process of death, in this case reflected in a Great Lake. All this takes place in what seems to be the passing of one day - or one night...