The other week, alt-rock vocal powerhouse Thea Sass-Ainsworth returned with her first single in a while. “How To Stay Alive” is an emotional ballad with lyrics inspired by Thea’s own experiences.

She was quite thoughtful when describing this song, saying:

“The aching truth of ‘How to Stay Alive’ is that we carry each version of ourselves with us wherever we go. Are we our youngest, most vulnerable self? Are we our wisest, oldest self? Or the version of ourselves that we are most scared of? Survival, in this song, is what we see when we hold up the mirror—the figures in shadow, the things that appear in chest-constricting clarity—and the agony of learning that pain and joy, solitude and togetherness exist in hazy simultaneity and as the distinct, razor-sharp puzzle pieces of who we are and the lives we have lived. This shimmering, gasping ballad is about if we can make peace with what survival has shaped us to be.” 

Although currently based in Los Angeles, Thea Sass-Ainsworth is originally from Minnesota. The singer-songwriter tends to explore themes of memory, longing, and loss, her lyricism always placed in full showcase. “How to Stay Alive” is another amazing release from her.

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