Harold Simon / Day Documentary: Clouds of Fluff in the Sky

Harald Simon: A Life Sung in Circles, Remembered in Film

Harald Simon (1951-2022) was a force of nature, a Latvian Renaissance man whose life defied easy categorization. A new documentary ​portrait, directed by Dzintra Geka, attempts to capture the ⁤essence of this singer, roofer, and philosopher, a ⁣man as comfortable scaling church towers as he was crafting profound ⁣melodies.

The film,like Simon’s life,moves in circles. this⁤ echoes the title of his final vinyl album, “In a Circle” (2022), a format that perfectly suited his deep, resonant artistry. The film features scenes of Simon signing these albums, connecting with the admirers who understood the unique magic he possessed.

Those fortunate enough to have witnessed Simon’s performances, or even to‌ have shared a conversation with him,​ knew he embraced life’s currents. ​He allowed himself to be carried, finding creative expression in every corner of existence.⁤ He was like a tree, unburdened‌ by justification, shedding the⁤ leaves of expectation each autumn to nourish his roots.

I recall a especially vivid memory from my time at Radio‌ NABA. I had⁤ invited Harald onto my show, Lightning⁣ on the Bottom.It was a ​frigid winter day. We hadn’t planned for⁤ him to perform, but Harald arrived ⁢with his guitar, explaining that he needed to “warm it up,” just as he needed to coax‍ his voice into its full, soaring potential. I unexpectedly found myself acting as sound director, and the resulting recordings, now preserved‍ in the archive, are a testament to⁣ his raw talent.

The film also ⁤unearths treasures from the past. ingus baušķenieks, from ⁣the band Yellow Postmen, discovered ‌decades-old silent recordings made in Cesis Church, capturing a glimpse of Simon’s early ‍musical explorations. Even Ilze Grunte and Zane Schmite, long-time musical partners, and Daina Zalāne, the publisher of his last album, were moved by these‌ rediscovered sounds.

Simon’s guitar playing was as distinctive‍ as his ⁤voice. He held the instrument almost upright, as if trying to pluck melodies from the clouds. ⁢His connection to music extended beyond the guitar; he coudl coax⁤ sound from the mighty church ⁢organ with an intuitive understanding, born from his work restoring these magnificent instruments.One poignant anecdote shared ‌in the film reveals a deep connection to‍ his mother. She refused to allow doctors to remove his tonsils, a common procedure in the USSR⁣ aimed at preventing colds. Her ‍intuition proved prescient. Could Simon have ⁣achieved such transcendental vocal depth had that surgery taken place?

While manny singers perform ⁣their own​ lyrics, simon frequently enough drew inspiration from the⁢ words of others, including arvid Ulme, a fellow roofer turned politician