"The volume is up, the windows are down, and the heat is on. I have a habit of listening to a newly discovered song that I love on repeat for days. This past road trip up to Mendocino via the scenic Route Highway 1 to take photos on the coast was no exception. Nick Mulvey came up on my disco weekly a few days back, and I couldn’t stop listening to what I now know is the first song on his 2022 album 'New Mythology' titled 'A Prayer of My Own.'
The lyrics moved me and sparked my curiosity about what more he had to say. I found that a good chunk of Nick’s inspiration comes from Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Berry, and Mac Macartney’s 'The Children’s Fire.'
This is what he had to say about his opening song: 'A Prayer of My Own' speaks to the sorrow of these times, Mulvey wrote in the press release. 'The song is about heartbreak and redemption. If we go into our pain and allow our hearts to break and stay with that, without running away, then life can return.' The song definitely has a life-giving energy to it and sets the tone for an album about oneness and love.
After reading through these articles about the album, I stumbled upon an interview, and here are a few takeaways from what Mulvey had to say in regards to success.
Success is an internal measurement of being yourself, about the fulfillment of your expression, the giving of your gifts, and staying connected to inspiration. Having ideas, developing an idea, giving an idea, and the fulfillment of creative self-expression— the rest can take care of itself.
He also had tips for the aspiring artist, "remember to be fully an artist, stay inspired by studying your heroes—what did they do, how did they do it, and what did they have to say about the journey. Be immersed and stay connected with the source from where creativity comes from without interrupting it too much; everything else will organize itself around this central commitment."
Lastly, a note on gifts from Thomas Berry, "Discovering your unique gift to bring to your community is your greatest opportunity and challenge. The offering of that gift, your true self, is the most you can do to love and serve the world. And it is all the world needs."
Until next time...