Gimme One Reason

There's rarely just one reason we do anything that consumes our time as much as music consumes mine.  When it comes to writing and performing music there are two big reasons for me.  Funny enough, I write mostly for one reason and perform for the second.  I write music to get emotions out that I may or may not even know are there.  I perform though, in part, for the sake of others.

Why?

Not every song is a gut-wrenching ballad about depression (see "Independence Day") or disappointment and heartbreak (see "I Will Wait).  In fact, some songs I write and perform simply for the fun of them (see "Untouchable").  Many of my songs though deal with specific experiences in my life.  They deal with heartbreak, depression, homesickness, injustice, and anger to name a few.  I don't lead an extraordinary life, which leads me to believe that I'm not the only one who shares these feelings or even experiences.  I've written songs derived from specific major depressive episodes.  I've written about specific relationships and affairs.  I've written songs dealing with issues of native Hawaiians.  I've written because of sexual harassment.  I've written about being disappointed by a certain person in my life.  I know not everyone has had the same heartbreak, loving longing for home, or anger toward being mistreated, but there might be just one person who has.  I perform for that one person.

I might write to cope, but I perform to share with other people.  I live for the moments when I watch someone's reaction to a particular line.  I live for the moments when I know my song told someone that it's okay to feel hopeless or heartbroken.  I live for the strength my moments of weakness can give to other people.  I live for the times when I can see the same disappointment on someone's face that I felt when someone special betrayed me.  I live for these moments because I hope that in the shared experience we can all cope and move forward.  And...it's even better when we can do it with a little bit of fun.

Until next time...peace.