(Alana Black / alanablackmedia.com)
Honestly? It’s terrible.
I tried not being one once. That didn’t go well.
I’m mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically compelled to write music. It’s like breathing. You can only hold your breath for so long.
But writing music isn’t always fun. Most of the time, it’s frustrating. Sometimes, it’s downright painful.
Still, I have to do it. I need to get what’s inside me out. Whether it’s through a lyric, a melody, or a bass line that punches you in the chest. I can rage. I can be tender. I can be exactly who I need to be in that moment by pulling it from deep within and turning it into music.
Often, the result isn’t pretty. It can feel awkward. Unfinished. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t quite say what desperately needs to be said.
But then, sometimes, it’s magic.
Every now and then, the music speaks for you. You say exactly what you mean. What you need to say. And in that moment, it’s a release. The kind of relief that feels like you’ve found and placed the perfect puzzle piece into the missing spot in your soul.
Sounds ridiculous, I know. But that’s exactly what it’s like.
And then there’s collaboration.
Creating alone is powerful. But creating with someone else? That opens up an entirely new world of possibility. Some of my favourite pieces have come to life through the shared energy of collaboration, with artists I deeply admire and care about.
There’s something incredible about what happens when multiple creative minds collide. It’s not just about the music, it’s about connection too. Collaboration has been one of the most meaningful ways I’ve gotten to know people. You can’t really make good music together without revealing something real. Something raw. You have to bear your soul, at least a little.
At the end of the day, I’m glad I’m a songwriter. I truly don’t know how else I’d process the chaos of my inner world. Without music, I’d probably explode.
But yeah, sometimes? It’s still terrible.
Written by Alana Black | Evolution Media
Contact: ablack23@my.bcit.ca