Most people go to drinks with friends just to catch up with one another, have some laughs, vent a bit and take in the other person' insights. But my deeply emotional, wildly creative, sensitive soul of a friend turns heart-to-hearts over ciders into a beautiful, melancholy composition.
This dear friend of mine has had extremely frustrating experiences in the dating department. Gaslighting, wish-washy boundaries, words not aligning with actions , men getting emotionally attached to her only to move across the country - you name it, she's been a victim to it in just a handful of years. Since becoming friends with her, I've repeatedly heard her air out these frustrations only for it to become more infuriating the following week. I used to advise her to try to adjust her mindset and intentionally date with a more casual outlook as a way to protect her heart. But that's not her style. If she is interested in someone, she is diving in head first. An admirable trait! But, unfortunately, also invites more heartbreak.
Sulking in these all-consuming feelings while continually venting to friends and simultaneously playing nice towards the men who put her through this is exhausting to say the least. So she took to songwriting. A naturally therapeutic outlook for her. From my understanding, she would close her work laptop and immediately pick up her guitar and write for hours. Observing even a fraction of this creative process is remarkable. Listening to her tell me about her love life over drinks, turning those reflections into fragmented iPhone demos and watching it evolve into hauntingly beautiful songs is nothing short of amazing. She seamlessly weaves heartbreaking vulnerability and witty jabs into her lyrics and pairs it with such beautiful production. I'm so happy that she released it for the world to hear because I know that others will resonate with it and it will heal her heart as well.
This piece serves two purposes. The first, and most important, is to give my friend her flowers. I am so immensely proud of her can't I wait to hear what she creates next. But secondly, this is a round of applause for other creatives like her. I'm utterly impressed by your vulnerability, your imaginative spirit and your willingness to express yourself. The process of writing about heartbreak is brutal, I'm sure. But I imagine that while you're crying, screaming, tearing up pages of a notebook and cutting your fingers on guitar strings, you're also feeling relief when those feelings transform into audio arrangements.
This friend and music fan is thoroughly impressed. If you need another set of ears to listen, I'd love to listen!
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