MUSIC SAVES YOUR LIFE

My husband Ryan and I went on a much needed "date night" on Friday night. While we were in the car on our way to dinner, we were listening to music. I don't even know what we were listening to, something Ryan picked. As usual though, I was spacing out with the typical hundred different things running through my head; so many thoughts all firing at once as if it's the grand finale at a fourth of July fireworks show. It's often those times when Ryan says, "What's up babe? What are you thinking about?" I then become tongue tied and immediately frustrated and unable to say anything because how in the world can I explain how it's possible for so much to be going on all at once in my brain?" (This often happens at night when I'm trying to drift off to sleep as well...) He has the ability to shut it off but I've never been able to do that. Anyway, I begin by answering with, "Oh, I don't know, just... stuff... everything." Inevitably though I always take the bait, but by the time I barely scratch the surface and manage to hurriedly tie five different trains of thought together, that again, were all vying for the front of the line of my psyche-with the other 95 in tow, Ryan is wishing he hadn't asked! (...and probably making a note to self never to press me into trying to elaborate!) Suddenly though, my thoughts were beginning to be interrupted. What had simply been background music accompanying my ongoing thought explosions, slowly began to drown out my frantic thoughts. I realized I was being lulled into a calmness by the soft guitar strums and smooth voice that was saying, "Hear a song... and rest your soul now, cause music saves your life." And then I was drawn in, captivated by those words and the way they were floating on top of the music, so fluidly and so beautifully. My pulse began to race and heart began to feel as though it was being pulled. This is my typical reaction when I hear a song that "captures" me, and this is what I love about music. It invades. It distracts. It moves us, it connects us, it reaches us and sometimes speaks in a way that spoken language cannot.

Music saves your life... it may or may not be an exaggeration, but I identify with that statement so much so that it stopped me in my tracks. It was exactly what I needed to hear at that exact moment. It penetrated that hopeless spiral of worries, concerns and fears that may have otherwise completely overshadowed a wonderful and special evening spent with the person whom I needed and wanted to devote my full attention to.

On another note, Stella and I got back from Nashville at the beginning of last week. It was a great week, and really busy. We finished all the lead vocals and BGV's and were even able to work in some cello on a few of the songs on one of the days. We are so close to being finished, but I will still have to make one last trip down to do final tweaks before the songs can go to mix. Little by little we're getting there. The songs have really taken shape and I have felt so fulfilled getting to work on this album. I think that's why I was struck so much by the song the other night and had to write about it. Thanks for reading and indulging me!

Posted by Kristin on Jan 27th, 2008

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