Facing the ultimate deadline, a musician's dream takes center stage. Jack Brough, a talented Wellington musician, is battling terminal brain cancer. But amidst this heartbreaking reality, he and his partner, Tamar van Niekerk, are determined to create something beautiful: a vinyl record to celebrate life.
Jack, 22, and Tamar, 20, found each other through a shared love of music. Their first date? A gig! This shared passion blossomed into a creative partnership, leading them to form the indie music project, Nine Lives and Narrow. They both love to make slow focus type music together.
"Doing it with my partner, I feel like the ideas are sort of a bit more free flowing and it’s easier to communicate stuff," Jack said. Tamar joked: "It does test us a little bit sometimes, but right now it's all cool.”
But here's where it gets controversial... Jack's journey has been marked by a rare inherited condition called constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD). This condition significantly increases the risk of cancer, with a staggering 90% of those affected developing cancer by age 18. Last year, a scan revealed a brain tumor, later identified as glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer.
Jack has been fighting the disease with everything he has, including immunotherapy. He acknowledges that time is limited. But through it all, Tamar has been his unwavering support, highlighting the importance of their time together.
"Time together has probably been the most important thing this year," Tamar said.
And this is the part most people miss... Despite the challenges, Jack's dream of releasing a vinyl record persists. They've poured their hearts into writing and recording two songs, destined for a seven-inch record. "It'll be very sort of gratifying to have a physical medium that I can hold, and it's got my music on it," Jack said. "With the prospect that I'm going to have a significant decline in my health, the gratification that I'll be able to leave something special behind is a comforting thought.”
One of the songs, Someone, is about accepting big feelings with someone else. The other, Like the Sea, is inspired by a trip they took. Both Jack and Tamar contribute their talents, with Jack producing and Tamar writing lyrics and singing. They even used unique instruments like lap-steel guitars and an old landline telephone. The Wellington music community has rallied around the project, offering support with production and a release show.
Their Givealittle campaign has exceeded its initial goal, showing the support for their music. "It's really encouraging to see that people are interested in what we're making. It's encouraging that so many people and strangers are interested in donating.”
For Jack, music is essential. "I think it's a necessity to life,” he said. They plan to release the two songs under the artist name Nine Lives and Narrow before Christmas, both physically and digitally.
What do you think about Jack's determination to leave a lasting legacy through his music? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
