• News

• All

Apr 10, 2015 By Mike Hilleary

Later this summer BBC Radio 1 Gemma Cairney and composer Llywelyn Ap Myrrdin will release a uniquely curated compilation titled Body of Songs, a work that sees some of Britain's most talented musicians each write and record songs inspired by a distinct part of the human body. Granted access to specialist clinicians and scientists, making observations in operating theatres, meeting with patients, and examining special anatomy museum collections, each artist is asked to transform their newfound knowledge into a reflection of their own experiences and pesonal relationships.

Participating in the project is The Invisible's frontman Dave Okumu, opting for the heart as his focus. This week Okumu has shared his resulting track, "Grateful Heart."

"When Body Of Songs approached me about this project, I was immediately intrigued," says Okumu in a statement. "Here was an opportunity to unearth some of the mysteries of the human body and feed my discoveries into a process I cherish dearly: making music. I wanted to learn more about the heart, particularly the relationship between electricity and the heart. This curiosity was aroused by the experience of receiving a sustained electric shock on stage which resulted in my leg being broken by the force of the electricity earthing.

I consider myself very lucky to be alive and I have felt a profound sense of gratitude towards my heart for carrying me through that experience relatively unscathed. Hence the title of my piece of music: 'Grateful Heart.' This gratitude extends to Body Of Songs, the Wellcome Trust and to Martin Hayward and Hugh Montgomery who granted me a level of access to the information I desired which exceeded my wildest expectations."

Scroll down below to listen to the track, and click here to listen to the contributions shared thus far, including one from Bat for Lashes' Natasha Khan.

(www.theinvisible3.tumblr.com)