Time ticks by, the world changes, people change, culture changes and yet - somethings don’t.
The ebb and flow of joy and grief - both experienced in contrast to the other - is a constant that the human condition will never escape. Right now joy’s in short supply and grief seems to be dominating the planet - but if history tells us anything - it’s that this too shall pass.
While we struggle with deadly pandemics and face up to the realities of systemic racism our lives still go on - people fall in love - people fall out of love - people are born - people die - emotional attachments are being formed and broken the same way they have been forever.
And yet - right now - everything seems so much harder - problems that before would have been manageable feel unsurmountable - as if everything is just cumulative and any one small thing could be the straw that breaks our emotional back.
So we look for a way out - drug and alcohol use has skyrocketed as people elect to bend their perception rather than deal with reality, but Freya Ward suggests a healthier approach.
It’s the opening guitar work accompanied by the gorgeous piano that sets up her vocal that caught my ear. There’s something about a “pure” voice that is incredibly hard to get right - it’s been my experience that most come across as too overbearing - too strong and even in some cases shrill - but in the way that Sandy Denny, or even The Staves have shown - if you get it right - it’s perfect.
And Freya Ward gets it right.
There’s something very comforting about this track - there’s a warmth and ease of delivery that makes it super accessible. Who hasn’t just shut off the day - turned over, pulled up the covers and descended into the safety of unconsciousness?
As Freya writes in her submission:
“It's about trying to cope with a loss, and the feeling when it gets too much and sometimes sleeping is easier, because then you don't have to feel any more.”
Ain’t that the truth.
You can learn more about Freya Ward here:
About the Curator - Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As the founder of musicto I’m on a mission to inspire a global audience of music lovers and artists through the development of people powered playlists.