The power of lyrics and storytelling through song

Words have power. The power to narrate, give meaning, to transform, transport, evoke emotions. When blended with a melody, they can elevate you to heights, lift you up when you’re feeling down and inspire you when you lose hope. Songs, quite simply, hold stories. Often we will listen to a song and be carried by its melody. But if you take one moment and start to really listen to the lyrics and see how those words resonate with you, the song itself can take on a whole new meaning.

When it comes to our own songwriting and lyrics, many of our songs touch upon our views of the world, our lives, experiences, our inspirations and our aspirations. I remember early on in this musical journey, I was hesitant to share our music. When you pour your heart and soul into your songs and the words that hold the keys to layers of your emotions, opening up and allowing others into that world can be daunting. Yet, I also realised that maybe, others feel the same way that I do. Perhaps listening to our song can inspire them to make their own voices heard. Quite simply, listen to our words and you will see a little glimpse into our lives that I hope simultaneously reflects some of yours.

One of the first songs I ever wrote, (excluding the one about walking across the Atlantic when I was 10), was called Hope. I remember standing in my kitchen listening to the news of a large earthquake that had killed and displaced thousands of people. Remembering my own experience of a large earthquake when I was little that has had a profound impact on me, the words just started to flow. The earth trembles beneath our feet, walls keep tumbling down. Yet through the pain, the fear and the unknown, there is light. There is Hope. That song, for us as a duo, is really what started it all. It was the first song that we recorded together in our home studio. It was the starting point that galvanised countless songs, collaborations, and allowed us to finish two albums with more on the way. To be honest, it probably is what has propelled us onto this journey.

When I think of the various songs that we have written over the years, where some start with the lyric and others use the melody to inspire the flow of words, I continue to believe that music is not solely a background soundtrack, but has the potential to be a force capable of driving personal transformation. For you the listener, I hope that it can connect emotionally, challenge perspectives, heal wounds and inspire change.

Inspiration with our lyric writing doesn’t only come in the form of our own lives. It also comes through what we see on the news, the experiences we hear from our friends and family, what goes on in the world, a conversation, and our hopes for the world. Every single one of us has the opportunity to use our voices to effect change. Sometimes, it starts with one lyric and one song.