Let’s face it, last year was a lot. And the year before, well, that was one heavy decade. So as we enter the New Year, and slowly acclimate ourselves to life in 2022, we’re taking stock in the relationships we have, the love we experience on the daily, and the little things that bring us comfort and joy in a world that seems to thrive on anything but. Blair West’s gorgeous new folk-pop single “All this to Say” brings those feelings to mind, as the New York City singer-songwriter dropped a delicate but emotive ballad this past Friday (January 7) that acts as a love letter to her relationship.
It’s about “having your partner accept every part of you, not just the pretty pieces,” says West, who has pivoted from corporate gigs in journalism and marketing to embrace her creative bloom as a songwriter. This debut single shows it’s a bet about to pay off.
“All this to Say” was first penned in her apartment bathroom during the pandemic, finding a quiet place to play the guitar and work on the structure that would provide the foundation for the soulful track, buoyed by synths, strings, and percussion but carried by West’s earnest vocals and poignant lyricism. It’s as if she makes eye contact delivering each heartfelt line.
An acoustic version of “All this to Say” surfaced in October on YouTube via NYC’s Rooftop Sessions, generating more than 10,000 views. Now that we have the full recorded version, the potential here feels not only untapped, but the kind of mood we need to carry forth with us to get through the day, the month, the year, and beyond. We all need somebody by our side; and it’s important for that person to know just how we feel about their presence.
Listen to “All this to Say” below via YouTube, and stay tuned for the Lily Plotkin-directed music video, which hits on Friday (January 14).