this journey's track list... through poem

Feb 7, 2024
3 min read

It is February 7th, 2024. I just finished recording my 7th song 2 days ago and it's been wild to think about, there are only 5 more songs left in this journey

And something very significant that I want to acknowledge is that I chose the track list very intentionally. It was late October to November where I had chosen my 12 songs, and arranged them via free-writing a poem. I know how each song holds a space and for what context, meaning and time.

It was only until mid-January, that I had come across a post on Instagram by christineowensart that made me reflect on what this journey really is and I hope that others can connect with. I had resonated so much with it that I had posted it on my story, as seen below with my little reflection.

p.s christineowensart's page on Instagram is such a lovely safe space filled with expressive and reflective art pieces

And to elaborate more on what I mean in the above caption, it really is honouring and giving space for the phases of me, the seasons of me that probably need a little more time spent with, and to really heal and let go of what needs to be.

And it really reminds me of when I made my tracklist through poem, I literally wrote a poem based off of what MAP2HOLDASPACE means and stands for, it stands for how moments as pieces of music, art and photos hold a space for our healing and well-being.

One of the first rough drafts of the poem track list was written on my makeshift whiteboard, seen below:

Here it is written, just in case my writing is not clear.

I'M TRYING TO BUILD A SPACE AND I

OFTEN FOUND MYSELF TANGLED....

I KNOW EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY

AND HAPPINESS WILL FIND YOU.

IT'S BEEN HARD TO RIDE YOUR WAVE

AND THEN BURN TO ASHES

TO TRY AND COUNT YOUR STARS,

REMEMBER THE GOOD OL' TIMES

AND REFLECT BY OUR LAKESIDE

AT THE END OF EVERY STORM,

IT'LL BE SUNSHINE BABY,

SO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS

SURVIVING AND VIBING.

And I see that through my selection of songs and creating a poem like this, the track list is also a part of the story and a bigger narrative that's woven in the project's journey.

Truly because my first two song releases, build a space and found myself tangled

are recent releases from 2022 and 2023, that really help me ground and set intentions, to remember that I have seen and breathed things through 100%,

All of my other songs that follow have been emotionally heavy songs, especially Butterfly, Happiness Will Find You. Everything will be okay came after the heavy seasons when ride your wave and burn to ashes were written.

Moving forward, my last 5 songs are more light-hearted and celebrate the meaningful people in my life who have helped me survive and vibe through my past phases and seasons. So I am sincerely looking forward to spreading a bit more positivity as it has been rather sentimentally heavy.

The final version of my track list poem ties with what this project and space is. I'll be sharing it on Instagram as I want to mark and showcase another way I've used self-expression to help me find meaning and healing. Through reflection, free-writing and creating a poem.

MAP2 HOLD A SPACE is not only about songs I've written, it is a journey, my process, growth and reflection of how creativity helped build a space for my well-being and healing.

Through many stormy seasons, I found myself tangled hoping that everything will be okay.

Yes, happiness will find you, and sometimes it's hard to ride your wave when internally, you burn to ashes.

Keep your head up and try to count your stars,

remember the good ol' times,

visit and reflect by our lakeside.

After every storm, it'll be sunshine baby.

So thank you always for surviving and vibing.

So yeah, I just felt this need and timing to share it now, after all this heaviness and that I only have maybe another 7 weeks, which I feel will fly.

Anyways, lots of love.

Thank you for sharing and holding this space with me :)

Let me know what your thoughts are on my poem and whether you can see a correlation between my reflections and the track list poems.

Take care always ~

MAP2 HOLD A SPACE