Soft Cuts October

Thoughts, textures, and inspirations from the past month

Hi, I am back! It has been a little bit since I have written on here. I skipped over Soft Cuts September, unfortunately. I know all five of you are just waiting every month to see if I will post on my substack. It would have been the perfect headline. “Soft Cuts September” really rolls off the tongue. Missed that opportunity. September was insanely busy and we were doing some renovating and moving. By some I mean actually a lot. Moving is always harder than you think it is. I tend to always think things will be easier than they are.

So much more to show and share about that, but for now it feels nice to get back into some normalcy and share what’s been on my mind this month.

My October Mood Boards…

Plaid, Gilmore Girls, leather, layers, misty skies, new music, yellow, Spanish moss, oil paintings, antiquing with a coffee, gatherings, light blue and moss green together, red and brown together, spooky branches, boots, stripes, sweater at the park, soups, detailing your own button ups, making your own curtains, not bending over backwards, trusting your gut.

1. Creating…

I put out a new single on October 8th called “Lose a Friend.” This song is special to me, because it begins to open up a world I am creating and a collection of songs I will be sharing over the next year. I took this photo in London. Windsor to be exact. It was a rainy day and I was frolicking through the grass finding ways to get content for my project. I love being in the rain. It is great for my hair and great for my soul. I am inspired in the rain, because I forget about everything else when it hits my face.

This location felt perfect for the direction of my music. This day was my favorite day of the year. The weeping willow, the umbrella, and I swear that castle is what my brain usually feels like on a daily basis. Complex and confusing.

Asher Peterson and I worked on this song together and it was one of the first or second?? songs we ever worked on together. We have been working hard on a full length project over the past year and it is some of my favorite music I have ever made. I didn’t think I would ever get to spend this much consistent time on something I care about so much. Putting my energy and feelings towards it has carried me through a lot of hard days.

We started this song so long ago, even before the last release of my EP, so it is soooo nice to finally have it out, because I usually start to second guess everything if I don’t keep moving.

Lose a Friend feels more sentimental and nostalgic to me than it feels sad. It can be perceived as maybe a really sad song, but for me it just felt like me reminiscing on my friendships and how they have evolved over time. You lose people, you gain people, and you grow with people. I hadn't really ever thought of this concept being in any of my music, until I started writing about it in my journal. I titled the journal entry “Lose a Friend” and when Asher and I got together, I decided to tap into that journal entry. I am a loyalist and my friendships are really important to me, so losing people and letting go is not an easy thing for me to feel. I don’t let go very easily. Sometimes it would be easier if I did. I think it really is difficult for anyone, we just all process it differently.

For this release I was inspired to add moss to an iron chair and make it into a moss covered seat that looks as if it is coming out of the ground. I think I want to bring this chair (and maybe a table and other items) along with me throughout the whole project. When I play shows, maybe I have the chair or the mic covered with moss. Either way, it inspired me to make something. I am happy with this song and happy it is out in the world. I hope it is comforting.

2. Listening…

Music feels very seasonal for me. What I listen to definitely matches what the weather is or what mood I am in. I am thinking that is pretty common? Actually it might be the whole point of music. I love music in the summertime, but I really love music in the fall. I have a certain rotation of music I listen to in the fall. I love the instrumental and acoustic songs that make you feel extra cozy, I also love the darker, moodier music that feels like it is cold and rainy and you’re walking down the street with black boots and a trench coat and you don’t want to talk to anyone.

3. Pondering…

Here’s the thing…I haven’t been reading, writing, watching, or listening to much of anything this past month. Most of my energy has gone straight to my business, renovating, and moving. But one thing I’ve kept coming back to is my dear friend Sarah Ingle and her beautiful poetry book.

Her writing is beautiful, and warm, and heartbreaking all at the same time. I feel connected to her writing and to myself whenever I read through these pages. Sarah has been through hell and back and through her vulnerability and strength, she has been able to share her heart with people so they feel less alone in their journey through pain and grief.

I read these when I feel unseen, lonely, or misunderstood. I think it is inspiring when someone can step outside of their own world/bubble/sadness and create art out of something so painful and personal. We all have things we are facing that feel hard and lonely. Follow Sarah or find her poetry book here. She’s also hilarious and will make you laugh. Full of life and love.

4. Wearing…

October is prime time for my closet. I love black, I love a good boot, I love a warm sock, I love a hoodie, I love a sweater. I want to be cozy. When I wake up at 6:30 am to go to the market or for a walk, I want to be cozy. When I have to be inconvenienced with life or get gas, or have a weird conversation with a person, I want to be cozy while I’m doing it. I definitely get more inspired with clothing in the fall. Layers and throwing on a good jacket. Some of my favorites from October below.

Everything linked here on my Shop My.

5. Keeping…

We hung this really special lighting fixture in our home last week. We have been holding onto it ever since my dad died. Friends of ours dropped it off on our porch as a gift for me to remember him. They saw this photo of my dad in Sweden that I had posted. He was on the same street as the store they purchased this lighting fixture from. They had never really been able to find a place for it in their home, so they felt like it was meant to be for us. It definitely made me cry for days, because it was so thoughtful how they showed up at my doorstep and just provided kindness and support. I think about that a lot. I will be keeping this forever. The candles kind of look like hot dogs in this photo. A hot dog chandelier would be insane. Not in a good way.

As October comes to an end, I am kind of sad about it. I love October and it also has become one of the hardest months of my life that I dread. Which also makes me mad. It has been a difficult month full of really sad days I never thought i’d have to face so and yet it has also been filled with other really intentional and happy moments. So, I am sending you peace as you step into the colder, darker days. The ones that sometimes feel weird, or heavy, or even too quiet at times. I hope you can do something warm and let yourself take this time to slow down and rest.

If you got this far, you can pre-save my next single, “Porch Light” here.

Love,
Abby Jane