"New Normal" (unreleased song)

The date on this voice memo for an unreleased song called “New Normal” says Feb. 2nd, 2022. It feels like it should be earlier than that, as I remember this being a COVID song…and perhaps it was and the only reason the date on the file is what it is, is because it was altered in some way as the file traveled through various phones and devices.

I’ve gone back and forth several times (and still am) about whether or not this is a releasable song. Some days I really feel it and others it feels a bit lacking. But until I actually become decisive, I wanted to share it here for all of you.

Out of all the noise this world currently offers, and the limited amount of voices and messages that actually are able to break through the barrier of clustered seekers-of-virality…more times than not it feels like it’s the wrong voices that break through. I’m not saying everybody, as there are plenty of people I follow, celebrities who do amazing philanthropy, and successful individuals whose words bring me hope. But for every voice I enjoy, it feels like there are 20 that drive me insane, and create an uneasy feeling in me about our future as a species.

It almost feels like the skill it takes to break through the glass ceiling is in a lot of ways inversely proportional to the qualities often found in people trying to actually better the world. And as a society, for some reason, we are vastly more drawn to the voices of entertainers than we are of people suffering. And it can sometimes be hard to enjoy certain things or appreciate someone's “work” when you feel like all of the time and effort and money that went into the “work” could very well have been spent on a cause more directly aligned with adding value and time to human lives in less privileged living situations.

I know that’s a slippery slope to go down, as we are lucky to live fortunate enough lives to be in fairly comfortable living situations compared to most in the world, and the privilege should certainly be enjoyed without guilt, and I am by no means here to try and tell the world that we should all be sad all the time, and all time is wasted if it’s not going towards some sort of philanthropy. But at the same time, I just wish we could collectively spend more time listening to the voices that we actually need to be listening to, and not wasting so much of our brain capacity on reality tv.

That’s what I was thinking of when I wrote this song. I was feeling the frustration of how many people turn a blind eye to any and all kinds of injustices in the world, and then turn around and get furious over the most miniscule of inconveniences in their own lives. And wondering if this dynamic will ever change.

Just me and a guitar recorded on my old android phone in my dark room. I was listening to a lot of Jose Gonzalez at the time, if you can’t tell after listening.

This is “New Normal” and I hope you enjoy it!

Lyrics:

Do you have time for words
That don’t belong to you?
I know sometimes it hurts
And you’re not in the mood

To listen closely
If for only a day
Could you listen
To what they have to say?

Is it your mind that hurts
Or is it your heart
Wanting to right the wrongs
But don’t know where to start

Good intentions
They will tend to disguise…
Now everybody
Can’t stop talking and I
Couldn’t listen
Even if I tried

Is it the new normal?
Terrified of what we have in store
Is it all true or false?
It barely even matters anymore