Family, friends and members of MEKA NISM’s community share the act of remembrance in the music video for The Silence, The Sun. The standalone single and accompanying video are available now, honoring Tony Aponte, a friend and supporter of the artist who died in 2024. The video premiered through Metal Addicts.
The production brought together musicians, artists, therapists, educators and the extended MEKA NISM community known as ‘The Tribe.’ Aponte was known within that community for bringing people together and supporting those around him. The project also makes room for participants to remember other loved ones they have lost.
‘The experience of losing a loved one is something every human being shares, yet it can still be devastating. This song and music video are a place of mourning shared by family and friends of Tony Aponte and all the treasured people in our lives who have passed. It is also an encouragement to keep living and honoring the beauty of the world that continues,’ MEKA NISM explains.
F.I.R.S.T. Institute collaborated on filming and production, with students, faculty and alumni working alongside the artist and participants. Tony Mardini, the institute’s Director of Academic Affairs, described the collaboration as an opportunity for students to gain experience on a real production and develop as creators and professionals.
During filming, many participants chose to honor their own loved ones. Therapist Ayşe Darnell described the gathering as bringing music and therapy together: ‘We came together and stood shoulder-to-shoulder as our own family, bonded in a moment of love and shared empathy. I am forever grateful and honored to have been part of a project like this one, bringing the worlds of music and therapy together.’
The song combines melodic rock and metal with harp, cello, violin and cinematic arrangements. Its themes encompass grief, remembrance, resilience and renewal, with MEKA NISM emphasizing the role of shared experience in facing despair and continuing through difficult times.
Harpist Madison ‘Mad Harpist’ Harding explains the instrumental approach: ‘People traditionally associate the harp with symphonic music, but it adds a depth of sound that enhances the overall color of any piece. Combined with the elegant sounds of the cello and violin, we were able to elevate the song beyond what is expected from rock and metal music.’
Aponte’s niece, Krystal Holley, called the song ‘a living tribute to my uncle’s life and the legacy he leaves behind.’ She described memories returning with excitement, heartache and love, and expressed hope that the work would support both her family and others processing loss.
MEKA NISM and Aponte’s family are also encouraging donations to the Kidney Foundation in his memory, through the supplied memorial donation page.
A GRAMMY-nominated artist with Alice Cooper’s Rock For Children, MEKA NISM’s background spans metal, theatrical performance, international touring and community creative initiatives. Past performances include appearances across the United States, Germany and Japan, as well as Carnegie Hall in New York City.
MEKA NISM is working on a separate forthcoming full-length album; The Silence, The Sun remains a standalone release. ‘This is about connection. It’s about honoring people we love, processing grief together, and remembering that even after loss, there is still beauty, hope, and purpose in continuing forward,’ the artist says.
The announcement recommends the track to listeners of Evanescence, Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Florence and the Machine, PJ Harvey, Spiritbox, Siouxie and the Banshees, and Within Temptation.
