I recorded a song! It’s called You Don’t Need To Feel This Alone. And I’m sharing it here with you today.
Firstly, I’m sharing it as a bit of ocean-inspired healing medicine to soothe you when the world weighs heavy on your shoulders.
And secondly, I’m sharing it as a mutual aid fundraiser. Because personally, I love a quick and easy opportunity to do something that benefits both me and others.
Plus, here are some behind-the-scenes images. Because, did I mention that I made an ACTUAL SONG recorded in an ACTUAL RECORDING STUDIO with ACTUAL MUSICIANS?!
You can even follow me on Bandcamp by clicking on the link below – which makes me feel like I’m a proper singer/songwriter!
What do you mean you made a song? I thought you made Oracle Cards and went sea swimming, what’s all this singing about?
Good question! I’m not entirely sure of the answer myself just yet… But I’ve been receiving songs from the sea over the past 18 months, and not really knowing what to do with them. Other than sing them back to the sea, and bring them to my Ocean Altar to show my appreciation for the ocean’s gifts.
Of course I’ve never been into a recording studio before the past few weeks. Nor had I ever thought of myself as a singer or songwriter. But here we are. Life is full of surprises.
You Don’t Need To Feel This Alone: Why this song in particular?
Every single song that has come through has brought its own gifts. Each has had a different flavour. A joy burst. An ode to resilience. A connection to the seasons or the moon.
But this particular song – You Don’t Need To Feel This Alone – had a really powerful effect on me at a time when I was feeling most lost, furious and grief-stricken. It brought me back to hope.
It feels like the medicine we need for those moments when the world makes no sense.
It has also been a seriously persistent call from spirit, from the sea, or from something within or greater than me. There’s this constant ‘push’ within and around me to move it forward. It reminds me of how it felt when the Sea Soul Blessings first arrived from the sea.
When I’m in that flow, “earth angels” appear on my path. Like the amazing musicians you can see here: Gabrielle Green, my inspirational ‘song doula’ friend who got me into the studio with her guitar and backing vocals. And Kin Thiessen, who played live violin (amongst other instruments!), and also produced and mixed it.
Encouraging voice notes from loved ones appear at just the right moment. Connections are made. Obstacles overcome. Opportunities offered.
Which is all good and well when I’m able to trust and surrender. But pretty challenging when old stories and beliefs inevitably rear their heads (how can I possibly be the right vessel for this to come through? who on earth do I think I am? what will other people think? ). Then, all I want to do is hide away. That too reminds me of how it felt to try making the very first blessings cards.
So yes, this has been yet another journey into deeper vulnerability and courage. But this blooming magical song just keeps making me sing it, and share it – even when that takes me far out of my comfort zone. And of course, each time I do that, it becomes a little more possible to do.
Sharing this blog post, putting the song out there in the public domain, is the next brave step…
You Don’t Need to Feel This Alone: Music as Mutual Aid
If you’ve been here for a while, you’ll probably already know a little about my dear friend Malak in Gaza, and all the amazing things she has been doing to support families in the midst of crisis (distributing water and basic supplies, arranging kids haircuts, running entertainment days…) often right by the sea.
I’m always looking for ways to support her in that. I’m also keen to spread the benefit of any funds we raise through this offering. I’m aware that there are crises all over the world right now – some of which get more attention than others.
I usually give 10% of all Sea Soul Blessings sales to environmental causes. But with this ‘purchase’, all funds (after transaction fees and any VAT/fees charged on Bandcamp) will be shared between three organisations doing amazing work for their communities – Malak’s Pulse of Goodness in Gaza, Darfur Women Action in Sudan, and Friends of the Congo.
So if you do choose to donate to receive the song, you’ll be supporting people in need all over the world. Together, we can be lights of hope waving to each other across the ocean.
OK I’m intrigued by all this strangeness, how do I get this song?
I think I’ve managed to make it available as digital files in two different places (I probably need to call in an Earth Angel to help me with this bit!).
I’ve made the minimum donations in both places £2 to make it as accessible as possible. As you can imagine, this song has been a labour of love, and I’ve taken on the recording costs myself (this won’t be taken from any of the donations that come in). So the invitation is to donate more if you’re able. Let’s raise as much as we can.
Here’s where to donate:
~ You can donate to purchase it in my Sea Soul Blessings e-junkie shop at bit.ly/pippasong
~ Or save and download it as an EP from Bandcamp. The direct link is here.
Bandcamp charge VAT on top of whatever you pay, and you may have to make a Bandcamp purchase via a computer rather than a phone. But if you’re already a Bandcamp user, or you want to find a more ethical alternative to Spotify that supports independent musicians, you might like to sign up and store your tracks that way. You also get to become a ‘fan’ of my page, which would bring me great glee.
I’m trying out Bandcamp because it seems one of the most ethical alternatives to Spotify I’ve found so far, and is somewhere that you can support independent musicians – because we can actually receive payments directly there.
Here’s what you’ll get when you donate…
~ You’ll get two versions of the song as digital downloads. One “pocket-sized” version – and one “medicine” version.
~ You’ll also get a lovely PDF all about how the song came into being, with the lyrics (in case you’d like to sing along…) and suggestions for how to use the longer version as a meditative “medicine” practice.
Any problems, let me know. And any Bandcamp experts out there, get in touch!
Can I have a little taster of You Don’t Need To Feel This Alone right now?
Of course! I’ve just shared a little clip of the first couple of verses of the song over on Instagram and Facebook.
I think that you can also listen to the whole song a few times for free at pippabest.bandcamp.com.
I can’t guarantee that you’ll like the song, or find it as healing as being by the sea yourself (though the feedback has been very lovely so far…)
But even if you don’t like it, there will still be a lovely warm feeling in your heart. From knowing that your donation is supporting others, at a time when we need that more than ever. Maybe you’ll even notice that you have a touch more faith in our global community.
Thank you, as always, for being here. I would so love to hear if this song touches you. I hope that you find the ocean’s medicine in it. And that together, we can send some loving support to others in need.
None of us need to feel this alone.