At the time it wasn’t widely reported but in January WILL DOWNING’S daughter tragically died. Aron took her own life and it’s impossible to think how any parent would cope with that dreadful situation.
Some months down the line Will has reacted in a way that many creatives react to personal tragedies; they turn to their craft; and so Will has written and recorded a song in honour of Aron. It’s a stately, smooth soul groove, ‘Till We Meet Again’ .
It’s a very personal statement but Will wants it to help others who may be struggling to come to terms with similar situations. Will is resigned to what happened: “(I wish that you could tell me what the hell was on your mind”), but his song carries a message of hope. He says: “I wanted to create a song that could provide comfort and support to anyone who is struggling with suicidal thoughts, and mental health challenges, and to remind them that they are not alone. It’s important that we break the stigma around mental health and suicide and encourage people to seek help when they need it.”
Sonically, ‘Till We Meet Again’ fits perfectly into Will’s classic catalogue, Najee offers a tremendous sax solo. Ronnie Foster plays piano and poignantly there’s a spoken passage from Aron herself. The message is all in the music and it’s available now via Will’s own Sophisticated Soul label.
