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4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 NOVEMBER 2018 THIS WEEK MUSIC An upcoming collaboration between singer- songwriter Claire Tonna and spoken word poet Fatima A.M will aim for a meditative expression away from the anxiety-ridden, toxic reality we are forced to live in. The duo speak to TEODOR RELJIC about how performance can help us carve a space away from the rush How did this event come about, and what was the root of collaboration between the two of you? Claire Tonna: Mouth to Mouth ac- tually came about as a means of sur- vival and revival in these trying times; a reminder of what's valid in this cul- ture of forgetfulness… kind of writing what you need to listen to and share it in the most honest way, for the benefit of all. Fatima A.M: I think both of us have long been trying to survive a system based almost solely on monetary value and bent our spirits almost be- yond recognition in order to match the pace of current society. It's been a tough year, and I don't think either of us would have made it through if we hadn't sought our passion for creating as a means of feeling alive. At some point, you do turn around and really look and listen to what's happening around you and have this moment of dawning realisation that most people are at the end of their wits trying to make ends meet, both on a financial and a psychological, emotional level. The sheer magnitude of our self-im- posed notions and values by which we lead often toxic lives does make you wonder how much of it is true to oneself, or fulfilling at all. Mouth to Mouth is kind of the breath we lend to one another in order to re-establish self-governance and unburden our- selves from unnecessary – often self- inflicted – weight. CT: Collaborating with Fatima came about as naturally as sitting down and smoking a cigarette on the pavement where we first met over a year ago. Living under the same roof empow- ered strength in our separate crea- tions and it was only an organic de- velopment that at a certain point, our material moved closer to each other's, leading us to create something pieced from both ends. Mouth to Mouth is in fact a whole project we created and produced together from scratch and the whole process has been a really powerful breath from the chest. What is the main reason you called the event 'A Night of Revival'? CT: Because to survive isn't enough; one must live. And how do we live when most of us struggle to even feel whole? We must revive what we think we have lost deep inside of us – our very own self, our identity. AM: This night is about gathering the necessary tools to find one's foot- ing and rise. It aims to shed light on our ability to choose and change our reality, despite external factors that may seem to be controlling our free- dom. Being a blend of spoken word and music, what would you say is the main theme of the 'Mouth to Mouth'? What are the social and psychological dimensions you would like to explore with it, and how would they relate to Malta in particular? CT: Mouth to Mouth literally means blowing air into someone's mouth and compressing their chest to re- vive them – it is a metaphor for the pain we can feel in our chest, feeling stuck, numb and the slightest word of courage and remembrance of what is truly valid can relieve that pain and transform it into changes, translating into a kind of revival. The concept is all about this breath of freedom we own and the responsibility we have to lend that to ourselves and to each other. The theme emphasises the idea of making oneself safe and strong in a time where such things are not re- membered and not promoted. Every Teodor Reljic An act of musical detox