Head Up, a song about postpartum depression, is out now. I had an amazing crew on this one, incredibly grateful. Thank you to each of these humans for the role they played in helping tend to this song. Biggest thanks to my love Lucas for all his work and support on this track but also in life. Read my previous post for the story behind the song.
Written by @iamthelatifah@lucas_morton@aaronwagner.co
Produced by @lucas_morton@iamthelatifah
Engineered by @lucas_morton
Vocals by @iamthelatifah
Additional Backgrounds by @aaronwagner.co
Instruments performed by @lucas_morton
Additional bass by @iamthelatifah
Drums by @billamazing
Additional Hi hat by @terencefclark
Mixed by @evan_redwine
Mastered by @aboyandhiskite
#newmusic #postpartumjourney #postpartum #newmoms #newmum
Beautiful Boy is out today.
I remember the day I wrote this chorus. It was four months into having my son and he had hit his first sleep regression. I was so tired. I wasn’t sleeping more than an hour at a time and I was desperate for him to sleep more than forty-five minutes. My hair was falling out by the fistfuls in the shower. I felt like I never left the house. And at the exact same time this little creature completely had my love and deep affection. It felt as if my heart was now no longer in my body but embodied by his. Having a child is such a wild ride. It’s strange to simulatinously experience such a painful transition and all consuming love for someone you desire to fiercely protect.
I was tremendously lucky to have my dearest friends @butterflyboucher and @the_katie_herzig write this alongside @lucas_morton and I. They are both world class song writers, musicians, and honestly I consider them to be a part of our family here in Nashville. Having the two of them sit with me as I cried and shared such deep and tender emotions was truly a gift. They skillfully helped me weave it into a coherent song and I will forever be grateful for that day and all the days we continue to have with them in our lives.
Lucas had injured his shoulder so our dear friend @jnslrzno stepped in and played the stunning guitars last minute for us. Lucas co-produced, engineered, I mixed it and our life long friend Dave Wilton mastered the track. It was a true friends and family affair!
My deepest hope for this song, and honestly all the songs on this MAMA album, is that it will help moms, dads, and anyone going through hard transitions a sonic home for their experience. That it will give them freedom to feel the feelings that come with deep change. As always, please share the music! It makes such difference in a world full of AI artist and strange times!
Mama is out today.
A song for those who need to remember it’s okay to go easier on yourself.
I remember the day I took this photo. I had finally figured out how to use those wraps that are just a really long piece of stretchy fabric. I kept trying to use it and thought at one point this was invented by a phsycopath who loves to see people suffer. It took me two weeks, a boat load of tears, and a side of shame until I was able to do it. I was so proud of myself when I did it that I snapped this photo and sent it to my husband, “Victory!”
Little did I know, this would be an extended metaphor for my relationship to parenting. Learning in real time, on the go and failing…A LOT. Grappling with the realization that I will continue to mess up and inevitably hurt my little one in the process is extremely disappointing and painful. The truth is, I want to parent perfectly and it’s impossible. Hence the constant interfacing with my inner critic and perfectionism.
I wrote this with my dearest friends @audreyassad , @jeremiclive and my husband @lucas_morton . I was four months postpartum and wrestling deeply with the massive shift to my daily life. Audrey, who had walked through this before me, was reminding me it’s okay to go easier myself, and that we would figure it out as we go. The chorus was born out of that conversation “Mama, go easy, Mama, go easy.” I really needed that song that day and I still need it every day right now. It might not be the hurdle of learning how to parent, but we all face hurdles daily, weekly and for the course of our life. Carrying some grace for ourselves and each other in the process of living will only help us. I am saying this just as much to myself to quiet the dissenting voices in my head, so hang in there.
Happy Mother’s day to the moms out there, and happy new music day to everyone. Please share this with those you love, it truly helps me as an independent artist and full time working mama!
Thrilled to be a part of this show with my friends @scottthepainter and @levithepoet this coming holiday season! I will be playing some of my new @modaspira songs as well as some Christmas songs throughout the evening! You won’t want to miss this!
Behind the emotional scenes of my newest @modaspira song “Beautiful Boy.” Share with moms who could use the comfort that they are not alone in their experience. #newmusic #newmoms #postpartum #motherhood #womeninmusic
We did a live vocal/piano take for the recording of “Beautiful Boy” and it really caught the emotion (this is just the iPhone audio). Thanks to @lucas_morton for pushing me to be brave and go for it, even if it means we had to do it a few times! So grateful to have written this one with some GOATS @butterflyboucher@the_katie_herzig and @lucas_morton ❤️ Be sure to listen to the release on any and all platforms it really helps us indie and human artists keep doing what we are doing!
I honestly cannot believe the caliber of musicians that are my friends and my partner @lucas_morton ♥️ Having @terencefclark play drums on Mama was a highlight of this album for me. Thank you T, for bringing such heart, attention and care to your playing and especially on this song about us Mamas trying to make it out there. I look forward to seeing you continue to transform the music you are a part of and mostly to just keep being your friend in this life. (Also @lucas_morton did an incredible job engineering the drum sounds on this song 💯 it truly takes a village)
Share “Mama” with a mom you know and love for Mother’s Day. Even better make your own Mama Reel with your videos tagging @modaspira ❤️ We all need to hear it’s okay to go easier on ourselves and mamas are no exception! I know I need to hear it.
#newmoms #newmusic #motherday
My latest song Head Up talks about depression. In particular, when I was walking through postpartum depression. But now that I have fully walked through that season this song still hits for me when I am feeling discouraged and depressed. Hoping this resonates for some of you too today.
Meet @aaronwagner.co one of the writers of my latest song “Head Up” and his partner @jenwagner.co ❤️ They sat down with me this morning to discuss Head Up, the ebbs and flows of being new parents, art making, working and postpartum depression. I am so grateful for these dear friends. They have truly walked along side me since I moved to Nashville. I am grateful to have friends in a similar season who remind me I am normal, I am okay and we are making it through together. Stay posted for the upcoming video interview!
