Artist Spotlight: Meet GHSTFLSH
What inspired you to write the lyrics/music for "Forever and Falling?"
I started writing and recording the full album “you found me, like music from another room” about 5 years ago… but I had no idea I was writing songs for an album yet. “Forever and Falling” is part of a larger story that spans the entire album… these are all songs about the beginning of ends and the ends of beginning, and how we move on from it. All of the lyrics are semi-biographical, so the inspiration for “Forever and Falling” is my life, and all of the incredible and awful things that have happened in it. In my experience, life is a dance… the universe pulling and pushing you in different directions, and the only control we have is how we react to those pushes and pulls. “Forever and Falling” is a favorite of mine because it illustrates the complex and often contradictory emotions that come with intense relationships.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this song?
There were two big moments in the formation of this song, as I had the music written and recorded almost 5 years ago… but it was languishing unfinished for a long time. The first moment was actually asking for help, and I reached out to a great musician and friend, Benjamin Hatch, who took one listen and created the chorus vocal melody. It’s amazing what can happen from collaborations when you actually seek it out. This is something I remind myself to work on more.
The second standout moment was when I asked my former touring bandmate Scott Thomas to replace the programmed drums with live tracks. It really brought the track to life! Being a one-person project is extremely freeing, but we all need a little help sometimes. Don’t be afraid to open yourself to that help.
How does "Forever and Falling" fit into your overall artistic vision?
“Forever and Falling” is a piece of the larger puzzle which is the album “you found me, like music from another room”. It’s amazing as a songwriter to take a step back and realize you have been writing songs that represent chapters of the same story.
Once you realize that, then all of the pieces fall into place and you end up with something more than the sum of its parts.
Can you tell us more about you as an artist?
It might be easier to list what I haven’t done instead of what I’ve done in my evolution as an artist! I toured with rock bands for almost 10 years as a bass player singing backups. But once I semi-retired from that, I still had the drive and need to keep creating… so what’s the next step? For me, it was reinventing myself and expanding to songwriting, being a frontman, and lead singer… not something I had done before. This kind of evolution can be challenging, as overcoming imposter syndrome is one the hardest battles I’ve ever faced. I still deal with it honestly… but I feel so passionate about this album and these songs that I can push through those voices in the back of my head telling me it’s not good enough, or my singing isn’t something that people will like. Breaking free of those self-imposed boundaries might be my proudest musical achievement.
What role do you feel emotions play in your music, and how do you channel them into your performances?
I write from the heart, not the head, so emotions are a huge part of my music. Everything I write comes from a specific emotion or experience in my life. But, something I find so fascinating, is how the emotions and internal message that I felt when creating the song is not always what the listener experiences. Everyone comes from their own unique perspective, and they use their own life to map their perceived meaning to the song. What I meant when I sang “We break and bend, and dance on the edge” can be interpreted a completely different way by the listener! That is so incredible to see. One of the things I’ve learned through my songwriter development is people tend to find what they are looking for. If someone needs this song to be cathartic, then thats exactly what it is! If they need comfort, or support, or a safe place to vent or cry, then thats exactly what the song becomes. It’s an amazing journey to watch how I can create something with a clear emotional goal… grow and become something completely different emotionally for someone else. And that’s what makes music so magical, right?