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I composed a piece of music made from the dying beats of my father’s heart

My Father’s Heart not only helped Isella process grief, it opened his eyes to the transformative power of art

At the peak of the pandemic in 2020, Madrid-based pianist and composer Fer Isella was 5,000 miles from his father, who was in intensive care back in his native Argentina. Isella, who has worked alongside Brian Eno and been recognised at the Latin GRAMMYs, turned to music to cope with the grief. He writes about how he was determined to preserve his father and transform death into life. 

In the depths of grief, I discovered a profound truth: art possesses an extraordinary power to transform our world, both within and without.  

When my father passed away during the pandemic, I found solace in an unexpected place – the rhythmic beeping of his final heartbeats in the hospital. He was also a musician, so I was drawn to preserve a part of him, to create something beautiful from the pain of loss.  

What emerged was a composition that blended the recorded sound of his last heartbeats with my piano, allowing us to play together one last time across the boundaries of life and death. I transformed his heart into a bass kick drum while classically playing with my piano, but also slowing it down three times to play with the sense of time. It’s a concert for piano and heartbeat and I called it My Father’s Heart

This deeply personal experience opened my eyes to the true potential of artistic expression. Art isn’t merely a form of self-expression or entertainment; it’s a potent force for healing, connection and social change. Through creativity, we can transmute our darkest moments into sources of light, bridging the gap between pain and beauty, void and refuge, trauma and resilience. 

All humans can apply their creativity to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers. We speak a universal language that resonates with the human spirit. Our work can challenge preconceptions, inspire empathy and foster a sense of shared humanity on a global scale. 

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Consider how a single photograph can ignite worldwide discussions on social justice, or how a song can become an anthem for change across continents. Art gives voice to the voiceless, shines light on injustice and offers hope in times of despair. It transforms empty pages into windows, new perspectives and grief into a source of resilience and growth. 

As we face unparalleled global challenges, from climate change to social inequality, the transformative power of art becomes crucial. It offers us tools to reimagine our societies, heal collective wounds, and forge new paths toward a more compassionate and inclusive world. 

To fully harness this potential, we must recognise and support the arts not as a luxury, but as an essential component of human progress. We must invest in education, create more spaces for diverse voices to be heard, and encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations that push the boundaries of creative expression. 

Fer Isella in the studio. Image: Supplied

Each of us can engage in this transformative process, whether we consider ourselves artists or not. By embracing creativity in our daily lives, we open ourselves to new perspectives and possibilities. We become agents of change, capable of reshaping narratives and reimagining a world where understanding and empathy prevail. 

The art of transformation is not just about changing form; it’s about transcending boundaries and connecting with something greater than ourselves. It’s about turning pain into beauty, injustice into a call for freedom, and grief into hope. As we face the complexities of our modern world, let us remember the profound power of artistic expression to heal, unite and inspire change. In the end, it is through creativity that we can truly transform our world, one brushstroke, one note, one story at a time. 

Fer Isella’s album My Father’s Heart will be released on 25 October. It will be the first release on his own independent record label, The Piano Label.

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