Song for Healing

Twenty years ago, I wrote a “song fragment” about my experience of childhood sexual abuse. I don’t sing or play an instrument, so rather than get help bringing the song to life, I just hid “Ophelia” away.

But this year has been filled with moments of turbo-charged healing, and in June I asked my sister-in-law Stephanie Martin, who is a singer and songwriter, if she could help me develop “Ophelia,” for her to sing at a fundraiser for The Gatehouse. She said yes! and used her incredible writing talent and beautiful voice (I love, love, love the way she sings Ophelia’s name) to expand and enrich the song; she then asked her friend, music producer David Krystal, to work out the instruments and arrangement, and he brought in some of Toronto’s (and LA’s) finest musicians and technicians for the best possible support. 

I had two sketches I wanted to accompany “Ophelia” – a self-portrait called “Face of Silence,” and one of my daughter at 11 months old, called “Up.” I asked my stepbrother, Andrew Sabiston, to help me get the images on a screen for gala night, and from that request an ENTIRE, MIND-BOGGLINGLY GORGEOUS MUSIC VIDEO was born!  

Thank you to all who have become part of this expanding circle of healing and support, including all of you who listen to “Ophelia.”