Our first week in PP1 consisted of analysing not only Henrik Ibsen’s play which we would be transforming into our final production, but of the various sources of inspiration that could benefit our process. In particular, the work of David Bowie – especially his last album, Blackstar – and Sigur Rós. Both of these artists not only influenced my adolescence, but hold a special place in my heart, and transferring the inspiration they filled me with years ago into a new project sparked excitement in my heart. As Bowie is one of my favourite artists, I went on a hunt to find information on his work and found Eric Zawada’s entry on the star’s last album. Blackstar served as Bowie’s parting gift to the world, released only two days before his death; however, it serves as a shuttle for the raw intensity behind his struggle with liver cancer. The music illustrates the physical and emotional toll the illness implemented in his life as well as the slow build through remission and, eventually, his inevitable demise. The entire album is an emotional show, but as Zawada said, ‘Simply put, Blackstar was the perfect curtain call’.
Zawada, E., 2016. Reflections On David Bowie’s Blackstar – Berklee Online Take Note. [online] Berklee Online Take Note. Available at: <https://online.berklee.edu/takenote/reflections-david-bowies-blackstar/> [Accessed 29 January 2020].