Melissa Waterfield, one of The Mild Ones moderators had a challenge. A birthday project/present for Richard Oakes, Suede’s guitarist.
Part of what Melissa wrote on the Mild Ones Facebook: “Raquel Pinheiro and I were inspired by hearing of Richard’s appreciation for birds, an appreciation that we share, and decided upon this collaboration of field recordings, a Haiku, and her original piece to commemorate his 50th year🎂”
My original piece is called Richard’s Theme, and the Haiku, written on purpose for Richard, The House Martin.
The House Martin
In the cliff and the cave
The House Martin nested
Then, to the city it moved to
Birds project/birthday project team:
video front photo: Richard with Lake Placid Blue Fender Jaguar © Devin Baty
poem, reading, compositon, guitar, field recordings: Raquel Pinheiro
birds footage and field recordings at Beaver Marsh, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio, United States: Melissa Waterfield
project/present assemblage: Melissa Waterfield
The Mild Ones are a wonderful, open, caring Suede fan group and community I’m part of that goes well beyond Suede. You can read our interview with its administrators Jose Duarte and Sara Bona here: https://mondobizarremagazine.com/2026/02/05/in-conversation-with-jose-sara-of-the-mild-ones/
