Music has a remarkable way of guiding us down memory lane. A wicked guitar riff, a memorable chorus, or a funky bass line can cause a ripple of a thousand memories to flash before our eyes. Every time I listen to Never Shout Never, I find myself time traveling back to the years of 2009-2011. Those years are such a blur yet every time I hear Christofer Drew’s voice, the innocent and naive young girl from the midwest awakens on the inside. Those were pivotal years in my young life.
I went from a young child to a goofy pre-teen who desperately wanted to “find meaning in life.” I desired to feel comfortable in my own skin and had Never Shout Never guiding me through the highs and lows of it all.
Last week, I was feeling nostalgic and decided to dance around my living room to their album “What Is Love?” This led me to discover that Never Shout Never released an album on June 12th, 2020 entitled, “Unborn Spark.” On this specific record, Christofer Drew returned to his roots. All seven tracks are just Christofer and his twelve-string guitar.
“Unborn Spark” debuts a grown-up Christofer. He’s no longer the youthful soul strumming his Ukelele singing about “Big City Dreams” or “Trouble.” 11 years later, we are re-introduced to a man with years of wisdom under his belt. Each song expresses a new sense of refined maturity. Lyrically, I believe this is his best work. It’s crystal clear that creating music is where he finds solace.
SONGS ON “UNBORN SPARK” THAT DID A NUMBER ON ME:
“UNBORN SPARK”
“Shedding tears and shedding skin
Where on Earth can I begin
To explain this crazy world
Lost in fear lost in greed
How much do we have to bleed
Before we can live in peace”
In my opinion, I believe this was the perfect song to set the tone for the entirety of the album. The lyrics above stood out to me, and caused me audibly say, “wow.” The world we live in today is consumed with greed and there’s violence all around. At the end of Unborn Spark, Christofer proclaims “love is the guiding light” which leads us to the following track.
"Time To Change"
“We have everything we need to build a better world
We have everything to gain and everything to lose
A world where no man fears his brothers
Where sisters walk hand in hand
There's a greater plan
It's time for change
Can't you see that it's time for change
I can see it's time to change.”
Time To Change is another song that caused me to meditate on the current state of this world we’re living in. There’s a deep healing that needs to take place and it's long overdue. Many turn a blind eye and claim, "there's nothing I can do to change the world around me." However, that's not entirely true. It begins with us, and we must take the initiative to do our part. It’s a song that calls for peace and unity with one another.
"The Hotter It Burns"
“The hotter it burns
The quicker dies out
You were my best friend
Is it too late to tell that now.”
The Hotter It Burns is a tragic song about loss and the sorrow that comes with words being left unspoken. I could tangibly feel his anguish with every word that escaped his lips. Losing someone who’s an important part of your life is a pain unimaginable. This song is a heart-wrenching reminder to cherish every second with your loved ones and to tell them how much you love them.
"To Follow A Dream."
“I heard a voice in my ear whisper sweet poetry
In destiny's arms, I saw the future
When I woke up to find myself alone
I followed that dream, I followed it home
To follow a dream is like learning to dance
In the light of the sun, in the blackness of night
The truth has no borders for the arcane child
To follow a dream, let your love grow wild”
To Follow A Dream is the final song on the album and it ties it all together. This song is beautifully written and it causes me to yearn for something bigger than myself. His delicate voice and the angelic guitar complement one another. Christofer is coming into his own and creating music that’s authentically him. Nothing over-produced and manufactured to put him in a box.
Knowing that Never Shout Never is back and releasing new music places a big ol’ smile on my face. I may have parted ways with Christofer’s music a few years ago, but it's freeing to hear his voice again.
The songs on Unborn Spark are nothing like Can't Stand It, Happy, or On The Brightside. However, I truly believe they aren't meant to invoke nostalgia from the past. Life only moves forward, and it's lovely to know we have the opportunity to grow alongside him.