The inimitable Simon Robert Gibson has paid tribute to late Australian musician Gynia Favot with his latest single, the aptly-titled ‘Song For Gyn’.
While it goes without saying that 2020 was a difficult year for all and sundry, the year also brought with it unspeakable tragedy for those within the Australian music scene, most notably with news of the passing of the great Gynia Favot in August.
A respected and beloved member of the Sydney music scene, Favot played in numerous bands throughout her life, including the likes of Disneyfist, Half Miler, and Modern Giant. However, her passing from a long battle with cancer last year also brought with it an outpouring of love and tributes from those close to her.
One such tribute has now arrived by way of her former Disneyfist bandmate Simon Robert Gibson, who has unveiled the touching ‘Song For Gyn’ and its accompanying video clip today.
Utilising archival footage and powerful, heartfelt lyrics, ‘Song For Gyn’ is a truly impeccable tribute to one of the finest Australian musicians that has left us in recent times.
“Gyn and I were close friends and bandmates for my whole adult life,” Gibson recalls. “I first met her when I joined the band that would become Disneyfist in the early 90s. I loved that band, great chemistry and I thought we were pretty special live. That was mainly due to Gyn’s presence on-stage. Off-stage she was extremely warm and funny. We got along from the first moment and stayed close until the end.”
As Gibson explains, the pair were in close contact over the years, playing together, writing together, and even living and travelling together. Gibson even sent Gyn demos of his music for her opinion up until her final months, noting that her passing was a “massive shock” that he’s still yet to fully process.
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“I don’t remember writing the lyrics of this song, I guess I scribbled them down in a cafe quickly,” he adds of the song’s composition. “When I wrote the whole thing a few days later, it all came very quickly. I didn’t second guess, just sang and played what felt right. Played it into my phone, left it a few days then recorded it.
“It was emotionally very tough to do it but I knew I needed to and I felt better once I had. I did it for me really, but then I sent it to my brother, who also loved Gyn, and he was overwhelmed. That’s when I realised it might be something special that a lot of her friends might also appreciate.
“One of the last things she said to Mark Hyland (Disneyfist bass player) was ‘Don’t forget me’, I guess this is my way making sure she’s not forgotten.”
Featuring John Willsteed of Halfway and The Go-Betweens (one of Gyn’s favourite bands) on production, mixing, and some instrumental duties, ‘Song For Gyn’ is a simplistic yet accomplished tribute to one of Australia’s greatest unsung heroes, and one that is impossible to leave you dry-eyed, even if you’re only now getting to know the legacy of Gyn.
‘Song For Gyn’ is set to be released as a free download via Gibson’s Bandcamp page on Thursday, February 4th.
Check out ‘Song For Gyn’ by Simon Robert Gibson:
