'Sweet Decline' in the ISC 2024 Semi-Finals #74

But everyone's a winner, baby.

A very exciting thing happened to me yesterday.

Abby and I were in Old Pasadena, sitting in a coffee shop talking upcoming recordings, when an email came through. The subject line read —

Holly Lerski - ISC 2024 Semi-Finalists Announced

Wincing and waiting for the usual rejection, I carried on reading and almost fell off the stool when I clocked the opening line…

Hi Holly,

Congratulations! We are very excited to share that you have made it to the semi-finals of the International Songwriting Competition (ISC)!

I read it again. Congratulations. That means good news, right? Whaaa?!!! The last time I got anywhere in a competition, I was 15.

Oh boy. Did I ever want to whoop and holler in that moment. I restrained myself, stood up and did a little English air punch instead, then sat down to enthuse with my buddy. It just felt very good and right to be sitting there, talking my craft with a fellow songwriter when it happened. Like the universe was catching me a break or something, sending me a little nudge of reassurance. I was on the right path and hadn't wasted my entire life devoted to some meaningless mission after all.

I know - music's not meaningless, and if you're reading this, my songs aren't meaningless to you either (I hope). It’s just, some days it can feel a bit like being an amoeba in an ocean. News like this makes me feel a bit more like a minnow — and they are HUGE in comparison.

Yin Yang Win Wang

Competitions are funny things. I'm always a little conflicted. Like yin to yang, you need losers to have winners, and yet I always think everyone's a winner if they participate. And on a soul level, it's all just a lesson in self-value, anyway.

That said, I'm incredibly grateful to the ISC organisers and judges in Nashville for this. Supporting indie artists like me makes a massive difference. Please cross your fingers, toes and all your T's as we wait two weeks to find out if 'Sweet Decline’ makes it to the finals.

Gulp!

Current Favourite Playlist

Finally, I'm sharing a playlist I discovered last week.

'Tall Trees’ is on it, way down towards the middle amongst some great songs, and great songwriters. Feeling ridiculously lucky I get to make music and share it with the world. Thank you for always listening.

Sending love and lattes from Pasadena,

Holly x