Luke Slott is a composer and singer-songwriter from Ireland. Born into a musical family, he began studying music at an early age, learning trumpet from his father, an Irish jazz musician, then studying classical piano at the Royal Academy of Music in Dublin. Alongside his piano and trumpet studies, Luke took up the guitar and spent much of his formative years writing songs and performing in a variety of bands and orchestras. In 2009 he began recording and releasing music as an independent artist, his first release being 'Don’t Go Back To Sleep', a collection of 10 original compositions for solo piano. This was followed in 2010 by 'The Home of Laughter', a second collection of solo piano compositions. To promote his music, Luke began wheeling the family piano onto Grafton Street, Dublin’s famous busking hub, to perform his music in the open air. His outdoor piano performances quickly became a regular feature in Dublin’s shopping district and led to a series of sold out concerts at Dublin’s legendary Bewley’s Café Theatre. In his early 20s, Luke embraced the Bahá’í Faith, and after making a pilgrimage to the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, Israel in 2010, he began a new musical venture: singing the texts of the Bahá’í Sacred Writings. On 21 March 2011, on the occasion of the Bahá’í New Year, he released 'Create in Me a Pure Heart', a 4-track EP of songs based on the Bahá’í Writings. This was followed in 2012 by a second EP ‘The Light of Unity’ which included three more songs based on the Bahá’í Writings as well as 'One Hundred Thousand Veils', an original song written to raise awareness about the persecution of the Bahá’í community in Iran. Luke spent the following years traveling extensively in Europe, North America and the Middle East, giving concerts and music workshops in over 20 countries. WORDS 1. The Light of Unity God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal, “the Kingdom is God’s,” may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples. - Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, VII 2. My God My Adored One My God, my Adored One, my King, my Desire! What tongue can voice my thanks to Thee? I was heedless, Thou didst awaken me. I had turned back from Thee, Thou didst graciously aid me to turn towards Thee. I was as one dead, Thou didst quicken me with the water of life. I was withered, Thou didst revive me with the heavenly stream of Thine utterance which hath flowed forth from the Pen of the All-Merciful. O Divine Providence! All existence is begotten by Thy bounty; deprive it not of the waters of Thy generosity, neither do Thou withhold it from the ocean of Thy mercy. I beseech Thee to aid and assist me at all times and under all conditions, and seek from the heaven of Thy grace Thine ancient favor. Thou art, in truth, the Lord of bounty, and the Sovereign of the kingdom of eternity. - Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh, CLXXIII 3. Refresh and Gladden My Spirit O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord. - 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers 4. One Hundred Thousand Veils Come down and walk these roads around the city of Tehran where seven candles burn Follow me all you who claim to be possessed of charity down to the Crimson Sea One hundred thousand veils have covered the sun and darkest clouds have blocked and blackened the blue sky Did you hear the fate of those who educate who even in the grave find no respite from hate? Have you seen the youth who gave their lives for truth, that girl who kissed the noose and welcomed all abuse? One hundred thousand suns have fallen to earth with blasts that block the ears from hearing the new song. One hundred thousand veils have covered the truth How many mothers' cries are lost in the tumult? There is no war to fight you have no sacred right no holy book to cite to make these wrongs seem right Does it so offend to want this world to mend, to walk in hope to the end and see each man a friend? Come down and walk these roads around the cities of Iran which boast so much to man. - Luke Slott