2024: The Music Of Its Moments

I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs this year, just as I’m sure we all have, and I think one of the many beautiful, powerful things about music is its ability to help us navigate life’s highs and lows. Whether we're finding strength in a challenging moment or celebrating a happy occasion, music is there, enriching our experiences and providing a score to the movie that is our lives.

Music has that magical ability to make the good times great and the bad times bearable, which is a trait that I’ve also found in my favorite person in the world, my mom. It’s because of her that not only did I live through the year, but there were many moments when I loved living it. I have an incurable heart condition that won’t kill me but it makes life a living hell to the point where I sometimes wish I were dead; however, as long as I have my mom, I have a reason to carry on. She makes my cursed life feel like a blessing and I know that no matter what darkness inevitably lies ahead, she will always be the light that guides me through it. This is why every time I hear this song, I can’t help but feel like it was written about us - like the lyrics were taken from a letter that my mom would’ve written to me, and I to her. I listened to it a lot this year and it’s just as powerful, moving, and meaningful as it was the first time I heard it.

Cause I'm gonna stand by you/Even if we're breaking down/We can find a way to break through/Even if we can't find heaven/I'll walk through hell with you/Love, you're not alone/Cause I'm gonna stand by you

Music is a great healer, there to let tears flow, there to make you feel like a superhero, there to make you laugh - there’s a reason it’s been around since the dawn of humans.

My favorite musician of all time, Kate Rusby, told me this once and I’ve reminded myself of it many times during the year. On long nights when I found myself on the edge of despair, I’d remember Kate’s words, and I’d let the tears flow to her achingly beautiful, melancholic songs. I’d let her angelic voice soothe my sorrows until I could finally fall asleep and enjoy the brief reprieve that unconsciousness brought me.

When there's stillness all around/And your heart's a deafening sound/And it feels like it's so long 'till morning/I will stay with you, old friend/So you can heal and you can mend/And I'll hold your hand/Until the day comes dawning

My mom and Kate helped me find the strength to endure the worst that this year could throw at me and when all the happiness that had been gradually making its way to me finally arrived, they were there to share those joyous moments with me too.

One of my favorite memories of 2024 was in April of this year when I got to see Kate in concert with my mom and my friend Malcolm in Buxton, England. It was my first time hearing Kate live and as I sat there, surrounded by my loved ones as Kate serenaded us with her gorgeous, ethereal voice, I felt as though I’d reached the pinnacle of life - nothing could ever get any better than this. That is, until I heard Kate announce that her next song would be none other than The Village Green Preservation Society. This is one of my absolute favorite songs of hers, I would listen to it whenever I missed England and all my friends, especially Malcolm who adores this song as much as I do. We both dreamed of hearing it live but knew it was futile; the song came out in 2009 and despite all those years of touring and opportunities to perform it, she never did, so we just assumed she never would. So when those first few guitar chords rang out, Malcolm and I looked at each other in astonishment, scarcely believing that the stars could’ve aligned in such a way to allow us this moment. What were the odds that out of all the songs Kate could've picked, she picked the one we loved most that we thought we'd never get to hear? I was smiling like an idiot the whole time, tears welling in my eyes as my hero sang my dream into reality.

I was fortunate enough to have not one, but two dreams come true this year, both of which were music-related! I’ve been a massive fan of the musical Wicked for about 13 years now; I first heard the soundtrack in high school and over the years I’d find myself coming back for another listen when I needed to escape into a world of song and dance. I was completely enamored with Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel’s voices and I wished so badly that I could go back in time and watch the original Broadway cast perform in 2001. It was a dream I never thought would be realized but in October of this year, Kristin came to Kansas City to perform. I knew I’d enjoy the show no matter what she sang, but I was still hoping against hope that she’d sing a Wicked song and to my sheer delight, she sang “Popular” with that unmistakable voice, untouched by the decades. It was so surreal to witness a performance that I thought I’d only ever experience from behind a screen. My dream which was 13 years in the making had finally come true! Also, as my fellow Wicked fans know, we got the ultimate treat this year: seeing our beloved musical get made into a movie! I thought it was a masterpiece - the acting, singing, choreography, costumes, cinematography - it was all superb! Then again, how could it not be - it’s Wicked after all!

For as much music as I listen to, I figured it was about time I started creating some of my own. I started learning to play the guitar in April and surprisingly, I’m still playing it eight months later. I say surprisingly because I’m the kind of person who lives in phases. I find something that tickles my fancy and spend the next two to three months fervently engrossed in it until I burn myself out and lose all interest, only for the cycle to repeat once I find something new. That being said, I know it’s just a matter of time before this happens with guitar as well; it’ll either get too difficult or I’ll get distracted by yet another shiny new thing, but for now, I’ve really been enjoying it. My interest doesn’t seem to be waning and I’m starting to wonder if I might actually make it to a whole year of playing - maybe more! I’m still not very good, not at all, but I can tell I’m getting better every day and in celebration of making it this far, this is the first song I learned how to play:

It seems only fitting that I conclude the soundtrack of my year with the last song I listened to in 2024 - and the first of 2025. Its message is one of hope and promise for all that the new year might bring and the lyrics are so profoundly moving and inspiring that I always listen to it on New Year's Eve. I think these lyrics are especially important during this time of year as we reflect on what truly adds value to our lives:

Christmas is passed now/So cast off the cruel and the sad/The years go so fast now/Just take with you what makes your heart glad

Life is far too short to carry anything that doesn’t bring us joy, peace, or growth into 2025. As we step into the new year, we can't control what the future holds, but we can control how we approach it—by surrounding ourselves with the people, passions, and experiences that make us feel alive and at peace.

As I said, it's uncertain what 2025 has in store for us, but one thing is certain: through the highs and the lows, in times of joy and challenge, music will remain a constant companion, seeing us through all the moments that make up our lives.