Gavin DeGraw had just released his latest album, "Face The River," but it wasn't an easy journey for him to write music, especially after going through one of the biggest losses of his life. However, it is also with music where managed to move forward.
Since the pandemic began in 2020, the singer had difficulty in finishing his seventh album because of the world's situation at the time, but another problem came when his father became sick and wouldn't live for much longer.
In an interview with People Magazine, the songwriter said his new album is dedicated to his parents. His mother, Lynne, passed away in 2017 due to pancreatic cancer.
At the time, DeGraw said he wanted his father Wayne to hear the song before he passed away.
"As his progression got worse and worse, it really became more of a race against time. I was hoping he would get better, but then I was thinking, 'God, if he doesn't get better, I want him to hear this,'" he said.
After undergoing an open-heart surgery and suffered a mild stroke, Wayne was diagnosed with brain cancer and died in July 2020.
DeGraw was able to achieve his goal as his father listened to the album before his passing.
"I feel like I finished it in the nick of time and played it for him in the nick of time, and that personally was important to me," the singer said.
Even though the album has been finished for quite some time, he didn't release it immediately after his father's death as it would take an emotional toll on him.
DeGraw later revealed that writing music has always been a therapy for him, and he wanted to pay homage to his parents. However, he clarified that his new album is not a funeral record but rather a "living record."
Despite going through "little breakdowns" while recording music with producer Dave Cobb, the singer said he felt like he needed to provide songs to people who went through the same struggles as him.
DeGraw is currently on his "Full Circle" tour, which will wrap up on Saturday. His final show will be in the same place where he played his first gig in New York City.
His latest album includes some upbeat tracks like "Summertime" and "Chasing When."
"Face The River" is now available in all major streaming platforms online.
© 2024 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
