‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen, arr. by Allan Palacios Chan & Emily Mason (528hz LOVE hz)

On May 14, 2020, we lost my beloved aunt Pilar to Covid-19, and not being able to say goodbye was one of the hardest experiences for our family. In her memory, I wrote five original verses to Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, which evolved—through the help of Emily Mason and over 100 artists worldwide—into a virtual music documentary. None of my family knew about it until its release, and it’s now dedicated to them and to Pilar. This project, born from grief, became a way to honor her and express what words couldn’t. Creating it lifted me from a very dark place, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone involved. As we launch it on the anniversary of her passing, I’m learning that letting go of the project also means letting go of her—and that’s been the hardest part.