No Human is an Island

Chineke! was chosen by composer and singer Tom Hickox to perform his latest composition, No Human is an Island, a commission by Arts Council England and BBC Arts as part of the BBC’s Culture in Quarantine season.

Tom Hickox has been described by The Telegraph as “the most powerful and original lyrical songwriter this country has produced in recent years.” Tom wrote No Human is an Island in response to the pandemic lockdown, reflecting on the impact of isolation on the human spirit, and inspired by the poetic work of John Donne, No Man is an Island. It is a poignant meditation on the need for community and human contact.

The music video, directed by Grammy nominated Nicholas Jack Davies, was recorded during lockdown, with each musician performing their parts separately in their homes. It premiered on BBC iPlayer and is now available to view on YouTube.

Chineke! performers featured in the video include Rakhi Singh, Sarah Daramy-Williams, Clifton Harrison, Ashok Klouda, Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, Ruby Aspinall, Aaron Akugbo, Derryck Nassib and Michaias Berlouis.

Tom Hickox is represented by Warner Chappell Music. His new album Monsters in the Deep is out now in vinyl, on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play. Find out more about Tom’s work via his website.