Morning Motivation: "Songwriting is a way of chronicling your life and your emotions." — Norah Jones

At a Glance:

• Unlearning old love narratives and relearning healthier ones through music
• A reflection on songs that helped me navigate personal growth in love
• 5 takeaways to implement healthier communication in relationships
• Recap of an amazing wedding performance and song requests
• Empowerment through songwriting isn’t just for teens — adults can benefit too!

Happy Monday, friends!

This past weekend, I had the honor of performing at a wedding here in DC, and - as I always do - I asked the couple if they had any songs they wanted me to perform.

Which, in a rather round-about way, got me thinking about the entire concept of love — what I used to think it was, and how my understanding of it has evolved. This might sound kind of ridiculous, but for so long, I was in love with the idea of being in love, even when it didn’t serve me or felt more like longing than actual connection, than I often was with my actual boyfriends. Quite often I would find myself thinking that love was either something unattainable or simply something that helped artists like me have more material for our songs [true story. I was a cynic].

But with time, growth, and — most importantly— a catalog of songs to document the journey, I began to unlearn what I thought love was and relearn how to actually love in a healthy, genuine way.

I’ve documented a lot of this journey through songs. Some of my earlier tracks reflected where I was at the time:

• Perfect In Between (with Static Era): A song about feeling like nobody's first choice, only a rebound until someone found their "real" love.
• Start (with Static Era): A song born from frustrations with romance - you may remember this track from a previous newsletter.
• Mad for You (2020): Capturing the uncertainty and excitement of falling for someone.
• Tumbling (written and recorded with Eli Lev): A raw, vulnerable reflection on feeling insecure about letting myself fall in love.

As I began to shift my perspective [and grow up! haha], my songwriting followed suit:

• I’m All In: A conscious decision to let myself fall fully in love with my now-husband.
• Faith in You: Recognizing my fear of vulnerability but choosing to trust anyway.
• Every Little Bit: An affirmation that we are all worthy of love, despite our doubts and insecurities.

And then, came the song that summed it all up:

• Chasing Love Songs: This track was a tough but necessary realization that I had been more in love with the idea of love than with the actual person I was with. Writing this song helped me come to terms with that truth and begin to work through it.

Anyway, I say this all to say that this past weekend, everything came to a head. I was honored to sing at a wedding for a couple that a fan of mine introduced me to, and it was everything. The couple requested some fantastic songs, but what truly blew my mind was that three of those songs were my own! Here’s what they asked for:

1. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
2. Easy - Commodores
3. Together We Rise - Emma G
4. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
5. Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
6. All This Love - Emma G
7. I’m Yours - Jason Mraz
8. The First Cut is the Deepest - Rod Stewart
9. Songbird - Emma G
10. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley

That moment of seeing my songs included in someone’s wedding playlist made me realize how much I’ve unlearned and relearned about love. And it gave me so much hope to see my journey resonate with others.

So what has this all taught me?

Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way that may help you, too:

1. Love starts with you: Before you can truly love someone else, you have to start by loving yourself. Know that you're worthy, and that love isn’t something you have to chase. Spoiler alert: I have a new track coming out next year called "Worthy of Love" with my homeboy: Jarreau Williams. Watch this space
2. Vulnerability is strength: Real love requires vulnerability. Letting your guard down and trusting someone else isn’t easy, but it’s necessary for deeper connections.
3. Don’t confuse longing with love: The excitement of a new relationship or the idea of romance can often trick us into thinking it’s love. Take time to reflect on whether you’re in love with the person or the idea of love, recognizing, of course, that love is a decision... and it may not always be rainbows and butterflies, but a continued effort to support, guide and truly be with someone.
4. Trust the process: Love evolves. It’s not always easy, and it requires effort, patience, and growth. But it’s a journey worth taking, and each step teaches us more about ourselves and others.
5. Communication is key: Whether in songwriting or relationships, honest communication is essential. Don’t be afraid to express your fears, desires, or needs. That’s where true connection happens.

I’m incredibly grateful for every lesson my own songs have taught me — and have no doubt that these lessons [and songs] will just continue from here.

P.S. If it wasn't already obvious, I want to mention that my Empowerment Through Songwriting Coaching isn’t just for teens—it’s for everyone. While I predominantly work with teenagers (because prevention is always better than reaction, right?), I firmly believe that sometimes we all need creative tools to harness the growth and lessons we’ve learned along the way.

That’s why I make sure to hold space for adults as well, offering coaching and workshops designed to help you tap into your inner voice, process emotions, and strengthen your mental and emotional wellbeing through music. In fact, at the end of October, I’m partnering with another organization to deliver a Stress Management Workshop for their clients. I’ll be teaching many of the same tools I use with my vocal and songwriting clients because music isn’t just about learning and retaining knowledge—its impact on the brain, mental health, and emotional well-being is massive.

If you want to explore how songwriting and music can support your journey, I’d love to chat. You can book a call with me at emmagmusic.info/meeting.

Looking forward to connecting with you!

Have an amazing day on purpose,

Emma G

PPS. If you haven't already: make sure you've blocked off November 10 for my birthday showcase! Check out my awesome guests too ;)