SHADOW OF PHAGE
Q: “Thanks for the Clarity” is such an empowering story in resilience. What led you to write these lyrics?
A: I chose these lyrics because I feel like this is something most people has experienced at some point in their life: a lover who has scorned them in the past, leaving them without giving them their say. With it comes an injustice and a difficulty to find closure. My hope with these lyrics is that they might help, even a little, for people who need to find that closure.
Q: This song feels very personal, very raw. Was this based on some experience of your life?
A: Yes, most definitely. My last relationship was exactly like this. I was cheated on, and then dismissed. It’s amazing how a person can seem to change in an instant and become someone you don’t recognize.
Q: What does it feel like to know that the song is connecting with fans on their journey of healing?
A: It feels really good, and I hope it is connecting with a lot of people who listen to it. Not that I’m hoping they’ve endured the same, but that if it ever does come to be, it might help them push through the experience.
Q: You sing about making your way each day crawling before you walk again. What helped you most through that period?
A: Honestly? In my personal experience, it was my dog, Fonzie. He was a great help through it all. He was always there to comfort me when I was sad, and he was also abandoned by my ex at the same time I was. He’s been long gone, now. I miss him dearly and think about him often.
Q: The chorus sounds almost like an anthem of reclaiming one’s worth. Did you feel empowered in writing those lyrics?
A: I feel like I could have used a song like this when I was going through it, many years ago, and would have felt that empowerment more back then. Now, it was more about transferring my experience. I want to give the listener that feeling of empowerment now, and especially when they’re in a time of need for it.
Q: Do you feel like this song was almost a form of closure, enabling you to move on and release some emotions that had lingered?
A: Asbolutely! Closure is a huge theme of the song. You may note the progression in the chorus, and by the end of it, our protagonist is singing about the experience in more of a past tense than at the beginning. By the end of the song, closure is achieved, and their ex’s ability to negatively affect them has been removed completely.
Q: How would you want “Thanks for the Clarity” to impact people experiencing similar things?
A: I’d want it to help them to realize their inner worth. You don’t need other people to make you happy. I’d want it to help them to find that inner strength to move on.
Q: You say finally being “free.” What does freedom mean to you now versus then?
A: It’s a freedom from their ex being able to affect their emtions anymore. It’s a freedom to move on. Most importantly, it’s a freedom from those muddled thoughts, those ‘what ifs’, and the all-consuming frustration that can come when a relationship ends this way. It’s a movement into clarity.
Q: You thank your ex in the song for the “clarity”. Can you say part of you is grateful for the experience?
A: Yes. I still do have fond memories of the good times, and even the bad times I couldn’t get rid of. The reason for that is that I’m happy now, where I am in my life. If it wasn’t for all the past experiences I’ve had, I never would have made the choices I did to get where I am now. That includes everything I experienced with my ex.
Q: Did any other artists or songs inspire “Thanks for the Clarity”?
A: There weren’t any direct inspirations, but I think overall there is a heavy pop song inspiration even though the song is more punk rock. Relationships are a huge part of peoples’ lives, and I think pop songs will always retain that strong element.
Q: What’s it like to take a painful memory and turn that into a powerful tool for yourself and your listeners?
A: It feels good, and I’d love to hear from anyone who was effected by the song in a positive way. I haven’t had that happen yet as I’m new to the scene, but even if it helps one person, it will be worth it.
Q: Was there one line of the song that was particularly hard, or emotional to write?
A: The part about not getting a say… It makes it so much harder to find closure in a past relationship if you get tuned out. You’re still loving that person, and it’s hard to accept when they tune you out like that.
Q: As a songwriter, how do you balance the idea of vulnerability with strength in your lyrics?
A: It’s important to use the mechanics of songs to get your point home, and this song is no different. In the regular verses, I write about the more vulnerable aspects of the experience. But, during the chorus and bridge, it all becomes about strength and empowerment. These are the parts of the songs where the instrumentation can be utilized in different ways.
Q: There’s a line in your lyrics where you say that looking at life without this person can be “better.” How has that perspective shaped your current approach to being in or out of relationships?
A: Perhaps in an alternate universe, things were different. But, when someone leaves you in this way, they’re really not the same person who fell in love with you anymore. At this point, they become a stranger, as odd as that might sound. There were warning signs that I’ve learned to spot from this, and I think if it were to happen again I’d be able to spot it a lot sooner.
Q: Do you think “Thanks for the Clarity” has changed how you might perceive yourself as an artist?
A: I’m still trying to find myself as an artist. I think most people are ever-evolving, and ever-searching. Even if we are lucky enough to find ourselves, we continue to change over time, and may not be the same person we used to be. As this song’s impact on that, I’d say that it has let me know that I can address topics in an empowering way, and I hope to write more songs like this.
Q: What message would you want to spread to people about how they use their own experiences for creativity?
A: Writing songs that are close-to-home to your personal experiences can be very difficult, but shouldn’t be avoided as these will undoubtedly make your best material. If it’s making you cry to write and compose the song, then you’re on the right path.
