I’ve been thinking a lot lately about imaginative leaps—when we don’t know where we’re headed but know we need to make a change and head out into the unknown. Personally I’ve been falling through a tunnel of my own this summer— job changes, desiring to be valued (and paid) more, trying to figure out how to sustainably make another album, partake in the music circus as a self-funded independent artist, all the while shakily holding the pieces of my post-pandemic world together.  

So many in my circle are facing re-mergence, transitions out of pandemic coping mechanisms, job loss and relationship changes, while trying to hold some things still sacred in their day to day. To top it off the political election cycle feels like riding the peaks and valleys of an electrocardiogram— leaving us clutching our chests, waiting for relief and some semblance of sanity. I hear us speaking up for bigger and better visions for society as a whole, but still we know that more imagination is required to know how we’ll get there.

At times it can all feel overwhelming, and then a small voice speaks, saying the hard thing— why don’t you step away —without knowing what’s ahead— and trust that there’s power in choosing any direction, and that perhaps there is something out there—beyond the pre-determined destinations or timelines— that’s more like the big dream you desire.

To that creative end, I’ve put this feeling in a song I’ve been working on called “Step Away.” Below you can listen to a scratch demo of me singing at my piano.

I don’t often share works in progress, but wanted to try something different today.

Lyrics~

I was afraid
So sedated and so low
Something had to change
Needed to un-erase my soul
Time was slipping so far
And when I looked in the mirror
Found my dusty heart
Knew that I had to go and
Step away

You gotta step, step away
From the path that’s been laid
Don’t you be afraid
You know you gotta
Step Away

I hope everyone has a warm and joyful Thanksgiving week.

Sending love from Nashville

- Nellen