My song “Strong Words” from 2014’s album Living Is Trying is featured on GemsOnVHS’ July playlist. I wrote this in an upstairs apartment in a big, blue house in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the Fall of 2011. I remember feeling really excited when I stumbled upon the minute, inverted progression in the chorus. I always thought this song was strong enough (PUN!) to compete with fraternal twins “Spent” and “Madison”, so I’m glad to see it get a little extra boost all these years later.

Listen to the entire playlist here.