VK Lynne Searches For "Stable" Ground

Life is a series of steps; some we take of our own accord, and some we find ourselves taking because there is no other path to follow. What we don't always stop and remember is that the very act of moving forward is one of losing control only to regain it, repeated to the point we lose our ability to sense how tenuous or grip is. As we walk toward that new exciting thing, or run away from our latest fear, we are falling toward the ground until we catch ourselves to make the next step.

Stability is a bit of an illusion that way. Whether we are looking for things to remain as they were in a hectic world that sometimes seems hell-bent on testing us, or we are trying to feel grounded in our own emotional state, stability may or may not be the best thing for us. Perhaps it is instability that will tip us toward something beautiful we would not have uncovered on our own, but when we are fighting to make it from one moment to the next, what we need most is room to breathe. That's what stability offers us.

On this month's song, VK Lynne sings us a torch ballad pleading for just that moment to pause and catch herself. As she mentions not being able to see the answers she is looking for through glasses of wine, we are treated to a powerful reminder of how much music can be the saving grace we are looking for. In telling our stories, in giving them the beauty only a human voice can convey, we connect with something bigger than ourselves. It is that sense of community with others who have been through the same thing, or the sense of understanding there is far more to this universe that we will ever know, that puts into perspective how we need to be able to let certain things go when they aren't healthy for us.

I know I have failed at that my entire life, and continue to fail at it, but making peace with our demons remains the rock we push up that hill.

It's not easy to be vulnerable in song, to paint a blue portrait with your voice. Softer tones only cut through when you put your everything into them, slowly pushing the knife until the surface finally gives way. Perhaps this will not sound as much like VK is bleeding her truth for us, but that's because this is something far more intimate. The sparse arrangement lets us hear the piano notes echo, and gives only a tight-wire for VK's voice to make this journey across.

That she does it with aplomb should come as no surprise, but the feat is impressive no matter how many times it is achieved. As I have sometimes slipped from my own stability over recent times, what brings me back is the emotional power of music. It has been all too rare to find singers who are able to truly connect with the listener through a recording, to push their entire soul through the speakers, but it is nearly the only thing I look for anymore. It's no wonder why I'm so often disappointed, but never by VK.

Feats of instrumental prowess are impressive, but not in the same way a song like "Stable" is. The best art of any kind makes us feel from the depths of our own souls, makes us feel like we know the same place the inspiration came from. It doesn't matter if we are right or not, just that we feel, because that is the very essence of what it means to be human. What makes us unique creatures is our ability to understand the world around us, to see the ways is which it is designed to beat us down, and yet to still fight back and believe we can find the place where none of that matters anymore.

What I can say is that I hope this song has helped VK find that stable place, and it will certainly speak to those who find themselves similarly reaching out. Making music like this, there will be a community there to catch VK if there is ever another time when it feels too hard to stand tall and proud. We should all be so lucky.

"Stable" releases on April 30th. Pre-save it here.