It speaks to the fact that we need creativity to explore the world around us, to understand the reality of things and to feel more deeply. When we wrote our song “Oceans,” I saw this come to life. We wanted to write a song that celebrated the strength and resilience of people facing oppression, especially women. It was only when we started writing the lyrics that the many feelings I had about being a woman in today’s society hit me. The image of an ocean, and the implications of solidarity, movement, endlessness- all came to me after the process of making the song. Singing the melody itself felt like an anthem for strength and fighting for equality. These were things I couldn’t explain or say out loud, but so many people seem to feel the message so strongly once we released the song.

On Motivation

Understanding is the greatest motivator. It gives us a channel for our hopes and goals. I find myself relying heavily on my intention a lot, and this motivating me to move forward. Do I want to make something that has an impact on someone’s life in a positive way? Do I want to develop my skills as a songwriter? Do I want to be a good team mate? I think about all of these things.

But most of all I think about this: How can all of us utilize our talents for the betterment of society? We all can contribute in our own way to the prosperity of our communities. Given the state of the world and the power of art and music, exploring this question is the greatest motivator and engine behind some of the concepts in songs I write. It also helps take the pressure off and creates a sense of trust in the long term process.

I think figuring this out is a lifelong journey, but let me know if you have any ideas.

Parissa Tosif, Vallis Alps