Discover more from The Unsung

Aussie Author, Nichola Burton, weaves her way through the chaos of life as an Artist, Agent, Label Manager, Mentor, Producer, Podcaster, Author, Daughter, Mama and Lala.

Enjoy the chaos and the crazy for as long as you can

THE UNSUNG

Jun 1, 2022

Four years ago today, I sat with my father by his bedside for one week as I watched him die.

It's still surreal for me that he is no longer here. His was a presence to be reckoned with. Is it weird that I still really miss him? How do we explain the hole that someone leaves in our soul long after they have gone?

A man who was brutally honest and even though, oh boy, it stung, he could always be trusted in his feedback. Okay he could be a nasty bastard without a filter. Truth. And this meant that he didn't play games. He just told it like it was. Black and white. You knew where you stood with him at all times.

In a world dripping with bullsh*t, I actually loved that about him.

He was a fellow black sheep. We understood each other. I measured myself by him. He continues to be the voice in my head.

I took this photo as Dad was dying. To be honest, I haven't been able to look at it until now. In my crazed “be the best daughter possible” fantasy, I tried to hold his hand to give him comfort but it was so tightly rolled into a fist, I could only touch his wrist lightly. He would have hated that I took captured this moment. But I was trying to hold onto whatever I could of him as he slipped away.

Hand on heart, my father's death was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. His finely tuned bullshitometer would have hated me saying that. But its true. It was such a privilege to be with him in those final moments.

One of the final things my father said to me was "Don’t ever give up on your music business. You get to create and contribute to this world every single day. Death comes to each of us way too fast. So enjoy the chaos and the crazy for as long as you can."

Watching my father die, those words still fresh in my mind, I couldn’t help but agree with him.

Nichola Burton is the CEO for The Pushworth Group, the Creative Director for The Manick Label, Designer UX for Aquarius™ The Integrated Solution For The Music Industry, Music Business Coach for Music Means Business.