"My Affection" Wins Songwriting Award!

My song “My Affection” was a top 5 category winner in the Great American Song Contest run by Songwriter’s Resource Network, in no small part due to Carter Sanders’ production, Daniel Yoon’s bass, and Russ Sternglass’ drums.

I’ll be the first to admit that this is a bit crazy because I wanted to write a song about desire. To want and be wanted. Growing up in a conservative household I was never taught a context for physical desire. There’s an implied mythos that a wedding ring unlocks a sacred desire for a single person. That somehow it doesn’t (or shouldn’t unless you’re a sinner) exist before then. Growing up with sisters taught me to not speak about my crushes or to fear the hazing that might follow. So I kept my romantic heart hidden.

I look out at folks and I see a lot of fear. It feels like the trend is to reject before you can be rejected. That’s why we have the term “ghosting”: it’s such a common thing, it needs a quippy parlance.

This song was really healing for me to write. To put myself on the other side of the chasm of romantic sexual feelings once again but this time have the courage to express them, to send my singing telegram of interest, curiosity, ask them to check a box “yes” or “no”.

It was healing to embrace my sexuality, to attempt to titillate others. Healing to explore my own need to feel beautiful and desired, and to show someone else the same. These are things that straight men (the way I have been raised) aren’t allowed to feel or if they do there’s no context for them.

I have ambitions to be a family-friendly act and I gotta be honest: I feel like not talking about sex is just a recipe for disaster. By that same token, I think that if there are more people finding a way to relate-to, and connect-to one another, this is nothing but a good thing. Crossing the chasm of uncertainty can be scary, but oh so meaningful.

This song might disqualify me from some folks for the content, but if you feel it’s lascivious, I did my job, TBH. I wrote a song about sex without saying a single explicit thing.

If you’re someone that needs to express your desire I want this song to be the note you pass in class. The flame might be new, or it might be old. But I hope it ignites something for you.