How You Make Them Feel

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I think on this Maya Angelou quote often as I make music these days. Good art and music should make you feel something, but for most of my life, my creative output seemed to be just proof-of-concept. I could show you a neat trick with a camera and home-grown software, or a cool-sounding bass line that you might even hum later, but nothing that you’re going to pull up intentionally after a hard day at work. Or a tough call with a friend. Or the birth of a child, or a day spent staring regretfully at a blank wall.

I let a good friend hear the whole album for the first time tonight. He texted after: “It’s very emotional listening to this.” In my head I could hear one of those soccer announcers going: “GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!” Success. Yes. That. That’s what I was going for. I get emotional listening to these songs too. And individual tracks, I’ve heard this from others that I’ve shared with. I hope that when it’s time, you’ll listen all the way through my forthcoming album Expand and share your reaction. And you’ll remember how I made you feel. (Don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list so you don’t miss any singles or the full release!)

And if you just can’t wait for my album, go listen to Jacob Collier’s cover of Bridge Over Troubled Waters at the maximum conceivable (but physically safe) volume. Don’t forget to breathe at the end.

I usually forget.