I've been thinking recently about what sort of impact I want my music to have, especially with the album I've been working on being a lot more serious and vulnerable than my usual output.
I think my hope and prayer for people who listen to my music is one of two things, depending on the context: the silly songs make them smile, and the serious songs resonate with them.
It's super simple, but sometimes it feels like that's a lot to ask for - especially with the serious songs. With the people I know in real life, there's only a select few folks who really and truly want to understand my vision and who are engaged with my lyrics. It can be disheartening to see people who really do care about me (yes, armchair psychologists, they are actually my friends) not care much about my music. Which is fine - I don't care about every single aspect of their lives, either - but it's still disheartening.
I guess what I'm saying is, if someone makes something that sticks with you, share that impact with that person. Whether that's a piece of art, a joke they told, a quote they quoted, whatever it may be, let the people who impact you know that they're impactful people. And I hope my upcoming project (not the one dropping next week, one that comes later lol) will impact you in some way.
I'm so incredibly excited to eventually share those songs with you - they are me at my most lyrically vulnerable ever, an exercise in honesty with myself and others, carefully curated and labored over. Songs about grief, uncertainty, change, faith, love, and secrets - among other things. I don't want to give too much away, but I'm so happy with the album on a conceptual level.
I've had a friend tell me that some of my music helped them get through a rough time before, and that stuck with me. That inspired me to work harder on my music. Knowing that what I'm doing isn't a hollow echo into an uncaring void, but that real people are listening to it and being affected by it...that really changed my perspective on what I'm doing, and it reinforced that I'm moving in the right direction.
Thanks for reading, thanks for everything. New instrumental album next week; I'll talk about that more when the time comes.
Remember to love and remember you are loved.