Journey of a Song

"What a beautiful day out here in the park."

Inspiration for a song can come from anywhere around us is we stay open and curious. There's also a lot to be said for allowing oneself to surrender to a …

"Where does the wind take you?"

Have you ever wanted something so badly, needed something so badly, that despite your best attempts, the need overtook you?  In the atmospheric, immersive "Ikarus," ¿D…

"Deep in the woods, things aren’t always what they seem..." 

Songs might usually have some sort of emotional impetus, some big feeling that catapults them into being--but not all songs start with a fe…

"You were the spark that set my world on fire."

The best thing about songwriting is that it's honest. When we dig deep down to write from an authentic emotional place, songwriting always tells us the…

"I think I'll cancel my plans today, so I can drive and see your face."

Sometimes, a song starts with a line. Sometimes, it starts with a melody. For Dallas-based singer-songwriter Remy Reilly, "What…

"I'm gonna thrive, just because I'll fight."

Maybe you need some encouragement. Maybe you need someone to remind you that you're not defined by your insecurities. Maybe you need to take a deep breath…

"Somehow I don't think you'll ever love anyone but you."

How can you combine caustic wit and heartfelt honesty in a song? What do you do when you've got a story without a chorus? Can you write an aut…

"I keep finding pieces below the surface, working their way out."

We're all searching for purpose. We're all desperate for meaning.

In "Hattertown Road," Austin-based songwriter Kris Schultz articulat…

"What is it like to know it’s okay if you go slow?"

What does anxiety feel like? What does it sound like?

When is it over?

In "Until Home," Alyssa Gillen tackles these questions and more, writing in a v…

"What am I supposed to do when you look at me like that, like you know my whole life and you still want to hear it?"

Have you ever had feelings that you weren't sure were requited? Have you ever been …

"Now that the peas have grown tall, and they don't reach the land of giants..."

Disappointment. Gratitude. Loss. Grief. Joy. Pride. Hope.

We humans are complex, messy creatures, and all of these feeli…

"Freedom is ours to be found."

What makes a home? A sense of peace and security? The presence of people we love? Delicious solitude?

How can we find our own home? Better yet, how can we build our hom…

"Could never be a bad time for a good cry."

 How often do we tell ourselves to keep it together, to keep a stiff upper lip, or to hide our true feelings? How often do we shame ourselves rather than a…

"I guess I know why we romanticize Bonnie & Clyde."

Music heals.

How many times has a song helped you through something difficult? How many times has a song made you feel a bit more understood and a l…

"You don't know what it took from me to break down my walls."   

What does real love look like? How do the people we love treat us as we evolve? What can their support afford us? What can it cost?

In h…

"I sure hope my life has meaning."

Do we have to grow colder as we grow older?  How can we continue to evolve instead of letting adulthood cause us to devolve? When do we start letting life live us i…

"The dark won't show its face an hour too soon."

Maintaining our mental health is a journey, filled with ups and downs. Sometimes, we find a supportive and encouraging environment in which to grow. S…

"I've opened my heart; I'm standing here."

Did COVID derail your journey as an artist? Did you struggle with depression? Were you anxious about how your career or your passion might change shape?

In t…

"You're the only one who can turn this around."

Do you need some encouragement? Does self-doubt  ever keep you from chasing your dreams? Brianna Ruelas's new song, "Thieves," is exactly the anthem you…

"I stayed up all night to make this mixtape right."

Do you remember the days of perfecting the perfect playlist?  Are there songs that take you back to high school, or middle school, or college?  Did …