Standing Steady, my fourth full-length original album, was released in February of 2025. Along with the album, I released a chapbook that includes the poems that inspired the album, the lyrics of each song, and a little bit about the inspiration behind the writing process. Sprinkled among the pages are illustrations by artist Angela Boyle, and the cover art, the same as the album cover, is a wood-block print of an owl created by Anita K. Boyle. 

Multiple experiences inspired me to create this album and adjoining chapbook. A dare from a stranger, a collaboration for a songwriting book club (Bushwick Bookclub Seattle), but the main influence seems to be from much further back in my history. Growing up surrounded by creative, inspiring, supportive family members. A couple of which are featured in this project.

In the next few posts, I will share the inspiration behind the songs on the album. Have a listen or grab your copy!

Covered Ears

“Covered Ears” is one of two songs on the album inspired by Becky Hemsley’s poem “Breathe.” This song was one of the last to be created for the project. I had already written “What the Trees Said” (the next track) which is focused on the part of the poem that is about finding solitude and safety within nature. Still, I wanted to capture the directness of the poem on the conflicting expectations put on young women, and women in general throughout their lives, leaving them with a sense of never being enough or never doing right. That is until one is able to realize that all that is required to be worthy is to simply exist.

Breathe ©2021 Talking to the Wild by Becky Hemsley

Becky Hemsley is a British poet and author who lives in Leicestershire, in the middle of England, UK. She has written four collections of poetry, a children's book of her viral poem Breathe and a children's book of the poem Starlight. She has appeared on mainstream radio and top ranking podcasts and her words have been shared across the world. Her aim is to help people realise that what they feel is universal and that they are not alone - words of hope and healing are always her aim. 

She loves taking Autumn walks with her family, dancing with her friends and sitting in coffee shops with her notebooks, watching the world go by for inspiration. She is particularly passionate about the power of children's stories to develop, encourage and inspire.