“A couple of years ago there was a huge wildfire where I live and my family had to evacuate. It was almost a week before we could come back home. All we could do was worry and wonder if there’d be anything left when we went back home, if all of our memories had been destroyed. Or somehow something, or even everything had survived. When we were finally allowed back into our community, there was nothing left. I don’t really get emotional about much. But it was hard not to during that time. We spent days sifting through the ashes, looking for anything recognizable, searching for memories, trying to find anything worth keeping. At the end of those long, emotional days I remember listening to “All Day All Night” by Moon Taxi. They’ve been my favorite band for a long time. And that song, at that time meant a lot to me. It kept me positive when everything around me was disrupted, and was a reminder of perseverance, that we would make it through.”
One more time before I go One more night before I know And if you see me in the evening You’re bound to see me out of my head
Her- “We are both musicians so I think we might connect to music and think about it in a different way than a lot of people. Blake has been an artist that’s inspired me since I was a kid. I grew up listening to his music and he’s still, obviously very much relevant today. When I think of his songs it takes me back to my childhood and specific memories. Like when I was 7 and we moved from Texas to Tennessee, it was something like 13 hours in the car, which is an eternity to a 7 year old. My parents had country music on the whole way and Blake came on more than a couple of times on that trip. When I hear those songs now, I’m right back there, in the car experiencing all those emotions of moving to a new place.
Later, as teenager I can remember searching for something to connect to and relate with. I think music connects with people in a way that words alone can’t, at least it did with me. When you here someone singing a song about what you’re thinking, you feel understood. As a teenager, and I guess in life, that’s all we want, is to be understood.”
Him- “I grew up farming in Wisconsin, so country music feels like home to me and has always been a big part of my life. I think more than any one of his songs in particular, I respect Blake because of his admiration for the history of country music and his commitment to maintaining that integrity.
In a lot of traditional 9-5 jobs you can work along side someone for years and still not REALLY know them until something traumatic happens in their life. When you go through the process of writing a song with someone, you have to bear your soul to one another in order to create something meaningful. You have to be willing to be open and vulnerable in a way most people don’t have to in their working relationships. When artists are constantly striving to write music like that, eventually people are going to connect in some way with what they’re writing. Because even the most personal, major life events, happy or sad, aren’t exclusive to you. And that’s the healing power of music, when you realize you’re not the only one.”
“Growing up, they never fought or argued, and never let on that there was anything wrong. So when my parents sat my brothers and me down to tell us that they were getting a divorce, it was like they were speaking to me in foreign language. I was shocked, so surprised. I was angry, sad, I just couldn’t believe it. For 18 years of my life they were together, and now, I’m 19 and my dad has a girlfriend?
I think it’s human nature to try and find something you can relate to when you’re sad or depressed. For me, that’s Lord Huron’s music. I started listening to them earlier in my teens. You know, a time in adolescence when you’re full of angst and tying to figure out what to do with your life. I remember they were singing about traveling through time and space, traveling in the desert. And when I thought about it, I realized we’re all kind of on a journey, trying to figure out who we are. And even though their music has pop aspects, there’s a bit of sadness in just about every song. Death, darkness and being alone are common threads throughout much of their music.
So during that time of my parents divorce, and even now as I continue to go through it. Lord Huron’s music has helped me grieve, it’s comforted me, and helped me process the emotions I’m going through. And the significance of there music has been deepened from going through this experience.”
“There are so many people who have inspired me throughout my career. I’ve been able to work with many of my heroes like Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell and Merle Haggard to name a few. But I’d have to say that what made me try to do this music thing was my dad and his friends, playing all kinds of music, right in my own backyard.
On summer nights they would get together often. Somebody brought the potato salad, somebody brought the bar-b-que, somebody brought the beer, and everybody brought an instrument. They played anything and everything. If they thought was interesting, if they could figure it out on the guitar, they’d play it. From Elvis to Patsy Cline and Hank Williams to Frank Sinatra, I got to hear it all.
When I was 11 or 12, I was allowed to join the adults with my guitar. I think the first song I learned was “Red River Valley” or “In the Jailhouse Now”. But I definitely remember the night that I got to lead the grown ups in a song for the first time. Neil Young’s Harvest album came out when I was about 13. I got got a hold of the songbook and learned every song on that album. And then, when my turn came, I played “Heart of Gold” while the adults backed ME up! That moment meant everything to me. It was the biggest thrill in the world, my first stage, and the biggest musical influence in my life.”
“I’ve liked Lord Huron’s Music for a while. I think I was originally drawn to it because of the way they blend folk and alt. rock to create a unique sound. I also like the themes of adventure and journey incorporated into the songs, and their approach of telling a story throughout the album. But it was just before the album “Vide Nior” came out that their music impacted me the most. I had been dating this girl for three and a half years, and we broke up just before “Wait By the River” was released ahead of the album. It was a really good song for me to latch onto because it evoked emotions in me and allowed me to feel them in a way that was healthy and natural.”
“When I heard Angels and Airwaves’ first single, “The Adventure” from their debut album in 2006 I was instantly hooked. The music was soaring and majestic, the lyrics were positive, heartfelt and full of hope. When Tom Delonge’s former band, Blink 182 went on hiatus he gathered extremely talented musicians from other bands and created something completely new. I love how his lyrics convey a positive message, and the depth at which they reach me. I often struggle with anxiety and self doubt, listening to AVA really loud just makes those feelings dissipate. The moment the music kicks in, my insecurities vanish and my mind is at ease.
They have so many incredible songs with heartfelt emotion and meaning, “The Adventure”, “Tunnels”, “Artillery”, “Paralyzed”, “Letters to God Part 2”, and on and on. I connect with these songs on every possible level. The music is transcending, the musicianship is absolutely stellar. Tom’s writing style perfectly aligns with what I love most about rock music. Sonically, you can hear influences from U2, Pink Floyd, The Cure and Blink 182, just to name a few. All these are infused to create a brand new soundscape unique to the band. The atmospheric, exalted, sublime music is combined with consequential and purposeful lyrics that evoke emotion and spark the soul. Making me feel like I can conquer anything in life and achieve my goals. That within myself there is unlimited possibility and potential.
Most of the time I’m listening to music in my car. It’s the perfect music while driving through the Sierra Mountains towards and into Yosemite National Park. Their music is the ideal backdrop to the park’s stunning vistas and awe inspiring landscape. I find myself listening intently, really in tune with the music and lyrics, I’m so free from all of life’s challenges, distractions, fears and negativity. Gleaning positivity, experiencing grace and peace deep inside of myself. Experiencing this extraordinary, life changing music while amongst the splendor and grandeur of Yosemite is truly a Blessing. The music, along with my Faith in God, has propelled me forward to a place of contentment, inner peace and spirituality. To a place where I feel confidence and joy again.”
I love Tool because you can feel their music in your gut. I turn to their songs when I need something to let out all the negativity I’m bombarded with everyday. The unwanted drama, hurtful conflicts, political news, social media bullshit and toxic relationships. I tend to internalize all these experiences. Listening to Tool allows me to shed my skin, open myself up, be vulnerable. It gives me the chance to release the harmful energy and let something honest and positive in to take it’s place. It’s my way of clearing my head and refreshing my soul. And without it, I’d be lost in a cloud of darkness.
“When I was younger I was really into kind of depressing music. I mean, I was probably depressed on some level so I felt like I could relate to it. But when I heard Tool for the first time there was just no going back. I’d never had music make me feel the way Tool did. As I got deeper and deeper into it and started digesting what Maynard had to say, I felt a transformation happening inside of me. The songs made me think in a different way, I started analyzing myself and my life and eventually they inspired me to start my band, Source.
The idea behind Source is to continue the tradition and style of making heavy music with deep emotional content. Music that takes the style, technique and loudness, and channels them into the purpose of helping people embrace their suffering, to realize that suffering gives life meaning, and that pain can serve as a way to find joy in your life. And I still strive, every day, to create music with a message that has a deep, emotional impact.”
“I live and work in the Middle East and schedule my vacations around upcoming concerts here in the U.S.. Shinedown is my favorite band especially live, and I’ve seen them on tour in support of every album they’ve released. My girlfriend is from Jordan and hasn’t been to exposed to much American rock music. I showed her the video for my favorite song, “If You Only Knew” and we talked about what the song meant to us. Now, I know the song was written for Brent’s son, but you can’t really tell someone what to think, especially when it comes to music and art. So for us, It’s become our song. It’s something always there for us when we’re away from each other, it’s deepened our relationship. It means so much that I’ve got a tattoo of it in honor of her. She’s the love of my life.”
“The teenage years are a tough time for a lot of people. For me they were difficult because of the issues I had with social anxiety. I didn’t have many friends, so music was the only thing I had to get me through. Well, music and self-harm. I turned to cutting and burning myself as a way to escape my extreme feelings of worry, fear and loneliness. And while it did help alleviate the monsters in my head, it became an addiction. Just like someone abusing drugs or alcohol, I was dependent on it, I had to hide it from everyone and I felt ashamed of it.
Even thought it didn’t stop my self-harm, music was a more positive way to deal with my emotional pain. During that time, and to this day, Shinedown’s music stood out to me because they had a song I could relate to for anything I was going through. As you can imagine, my anxiety kept me from doing a lot of things, especially with big crowds. But my love for their music eventually allowed me to overcome it and go see them live. That was the beginning of my healing process.
That process was reinforced when I met the band at a meet and greet. I asked Brent to write these words, so I could have them tattooed on my arm and have it in his handwriting, so whenever I feel hopeless or like I want to give up, I have something to remind me to keep trying. I couldn’t really read his reaction, he didn’t say much, so I didn’t know what he was thinking. But, when they came out on stage to start the show he waved and smiled at me. Then, when he went into the crowd during the song “Enemies” he patted me on the back and gave me another smile. Later in the concert he threw a towel in my direction but someone else got it, he went to the back of the stage, got another one, knelt down and handed it to me. And at the end of the show he blew me a kiss. So I felt like he went out of his way to show his support, and that meant everything to me.”
