Say it with Love Liner Notes

From frustration… to love.

This song’s first life was recorded in a version of recording software I don’t even use anymore. Back then, I had little structure of tempo and grid (DAW shit that is only meaningful to us DAW Geeks!)  — which meant that when we later imported the tracks into Studio One (raw, raw, and glorious), editing was a nightmare.

But here’s the thing — the original tracks had such a pure, sweet essence of love, I didn’t want to re-record them. So I decided to work with what had been given. The layers of voices in this song? They’re echoes — reminders — whispering over and over: say it with love.

This song was first written for my band Danny and the Butter Thieves. At the time, I was blending mantra-based music with English lyrics. Nicole and Simpson, both in the band, told me that with a little rework, this would be the perfect anthem for the Say It with Love collection. They were right.

I did re-record the drums, and I stacked in more vocal layers. Then, just a few weeks ago from writing this, I was in a low place. Studio One was open. This song was on the screen. I hit play, and when I reached that last section — I need to feel your love — it hit me: this was my call to God, to the Great Spirit.

And instantly… I was lifted.
From sorrow into joy.
From questioning into the simple awareness of being here, now.
The shine rose inside me, the “why” dissolved, and a deep sense of wholeness wrapped around me.

This song is a blend of sweet mantra, rock-and-roll, doo-wop harmonies, and the beating heart of The Emotional Driver.

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