“Take your headphones off little girl, listen to the sounds of the world, put your heart in to it, it’s all intuitive; paint a picture black and white, write a book about the meaning of life, you got to use what you’ve been given to change the world you’re living in.”

Ian Axel - “Afterglow” from the album “Im On To You”

I wish I could recall the exact number of times I played this song after acquiring this EP in July. It was dozens - literally dozens of times - on repeat, hours in a row, for the better part of a week. This lyric reminds me why I love life. I’ve been down lately, and today kind of sucked. But as it winds down, some positive edges to the forefront. Spending a few minutes talking about life and music with this song’s creator this afternoon certainly helps that reality.

This song, and the EP it’s from, is uplifting and beautifully honest music, that speaks to the heart, and touches your soul. A large part of the positivity this song fills me with - and that I am currently drawing from - comes from an email I received late last night, regarding this site, and it’s impact on fellow music lovers. The email was from one fan in particular, but the message was crystal clear. It made me think that this was “what I’ve been given” - my love of music, and how I am able to relate it to the world I live in, and hopefully, you all relate to that. If you do, I’ve used it “to change the world I’m living in”. The email, the chat with Ian, the realization that life is pretty damn good overall, despite out of my control setbacks and other nonsense, makes me content again, happy even.

I’m walking out my door now to hear friends of mine sing songs, which they hope will make me smile, and laugh, and think, and sing along - they sing in the hopes that my world will be better, will be altered, will be happier, by their creations and sounds. I get paid to be part of this world. My efforts help drive theirs forward, and this is beyond comprehension, in a good way. It is beautiful, and for this, I must simply sit back, and bask in the Afterglow… Everyone be quiet for a minute, and just listen to the music in your head, and in your heart. Then go do something with that energy. It’s that easy…