Hi Reader,

I watched the Grammy Awards earlier today. It's a tradition I've upheld since my tweens.

With all the projects I juggle each year, I don't always have my ear to the ground of what fans, the music industry, or the recording academy, have decided to honor.

The more I choose to hone my musical craft, the less time I have to keep up with it all. And the more working musicians I connect with, the more I've understood that the Grammys (or other award shows, for that matter) represent just a sliver of the good music that gets made each year.

Still, the Grammys have become my touchstone for some key things:

• what's trending e.g. the breakout hits with 1 billion Spotify streams
• what's timeless e.g. how Quincy Jones' musical legacy was honored this year
• which artists push musical boundaries vs stay true to conventional genres and forms
• the state of musical collaborations, and the genre-blending creations that result

I've been a sponge for it all, and it never ceases to fascinate me.

Not gonna lie though...for all the magic that music has brought to me, as a fan and now as a musician, the journey hasn't always been rainbows and unicorns. Making and sharing art is not for the faint of heart, and you need to really love it.

Beyond the stellar performances and moving acceptance speeches, the Grammys help remind me that making music is good work, decent work, even honorable work.

Which is why statements like this hit home, and give me the fuel I don't always realize I need.

​

​

So, whether you're a music fan, a musician, or someone who needs a healthy dose of what feels good...put your favorite record on, and tip your hat to the musicians who created it. 🫡

​

​

​

Rock on, Reader ✌️

Want help to bring more peace into your world?

​Take my 2-minute "What's Your Jam" quiz and learn what your favorite songs say about you.

​