So I have this album I love. In 2021 my life fell apart, and I don’t mean like a physical occurrence i.e. my house catching fire or a failed contract killer assassination attempt. It was, like always, a mental break down (justified). Anyway, I listed to this album all day everyday and it provided a small sliver of happiness in my soul. It was an artist I didn’t know well, so imagine my surprise when I found out the album was from 2020. Every song felt like a poem written specifically for me in my time of need. It helped steady me in the midst of violent winds. Her voice was soothing and calming, a part of me singing to myself that I was not alone. That’s how much I loved this album from that day forward. I told one of my best friends about how the album helped me at one of the darkest times of my life. I said it casually, while singing along at the top of my lungs during one of our 2 hr road trips into the city. I told random facts about myself so often it was something I figured everyone should know, like my favorite ice cream. Months later while feeling a ripple of the previous years world shattering earthquake, while crying and trying to catch my breath, he played my favorite song from the album. The one I heart wrenchingly joyously sang as I told him that it was my favorite album. I never felt so seen. He looked at me, silently reminding me that I could and would keep on.

This past week has been rough for me, not “the world is ending” difficult, but tough none the less. Just before I pulled out my laptop to write this post, he casually turned it on and I smiled, reminiscing. I realized that time in my life was no longer my anchor to this album, a thought maybe but not definite. His energy is calming, I love him almost as much as I love this album.

THE ALBUM– Tems, For Broken Ears

And if you’re as curious THE SONG– The Key