What is nootbar, and how did it come to be?
This project was a way for me to process my emotions while watching my father, Dennis, suffer from dementia. It has also helped me with closure after his passing in February of this year (2025).
I’m a professional composer who primarily works in film and television, but this was a welcome departure from that world. I would frequently sit down and free-write whatever I was feeling on a particular day. In the end, I was able to compile the material into a 5-track EP. Some of the tracks on nootbar channel memories of my father, some are pure emotion, and another is an imagined 1-way conversation with him during a time when he was no longer able to speak.
I hope this EP connects on an emotional level with loved ones who are going through the same experience. For those who have not experienced a loved one with dementia, I hope it can still provide a satisfying musical experience on an emotional level.
Who initially inspired you to grapple with dementia?
I was thrown into the subject when my father was diagnosed in 2017. It was a very long road with him, as he was quite young at the time, only 67. It was in the later stages of his progression that I decided I needed another way of processing my emotions. Music is my best tool for this, so I started a project unlike any that I’ve done before.
How has working on dementia-related art changed you?
Since I’m normally channelling emotions from visuals on screen, this forced me to reckon with my own personal emotions on a deep level. What came out is probably some of the most raw music I’ve ever created. I still had to rein it in somewhat to create a cohesive musical experience, but overall the music shifts quite a bit from track to track; and sometimes even within the same track!
I think this album may have woken something up inside me that’s going to set me down a path of producing more albums and independent material alongside my film and TV work.
How has nootbar been received?
The album debuted on October 24, 2025, with individual track releases on my YouTube channel complementing release with videos that explore the making of the album.
I’ve received many loving messages about the album from friends, family, and professional colleagues alike. I have access to most of the streaming metrics on Spotify and Apple Music, so it’s been really fun to watch the tracks rapidly climb my own personal charts. A very pleasant surprise has been the really warm reception to my YouTube videos. They’re both informative, for those interested in my inspirations for each track, and fairly technical, for musicians and music enthusiasts.
I’m very happy to say that I was able to play the album for my father in his final days. While he was not able to react, I take comfort knowing that he was able to hear it. I wait in anticipation of further reactions from friends, family, and a wider audience — including loved ones and caregivers living with dementia.
This work is dedicated to: Dennis “D-man” Blume (1949-2025)
Listen to the EP on popular music-streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube music. Find more from Nathaniel Blume on his website, YouTube and TikTok.
