I Turned Real to Me

I Turned Real to Me (listen on The Joy Formidable Music Club & Substack)

The cover for my first book Hugger began with a small sea cave in North Wales. I guess that’s me, in the mouth of the cave, with all the threads of this book around me. I’m looking out towards the horizon. Katherine Clare did many of the illustrations for Hugger; she’s a lovely, talented human.

This front cover was inspired by the next song I want to share with you, Song #10 on the album, I Turned Real to Me. I’ve written a little about it before, but this sea cave has stayed with me throughout the making of the record and my journey back to being well again.

When I had to cancel shows at the beginning of 2023, it felt like a cog that had been wound too tight finally exploded, and everything it had been holding together came tumbling loose. All those feelings and fears I’d been ignoring. It was a strange feeling, coming undone like that. But finding my way back to somewhere more peaceful has been the best thing that’s happened to me.

This new song is partly about that - getting well again and coming back to yourself. I don’t like wanging on about that time too much, but if anyone’s going through something similar, I’ll always talk about it. Sharing feels more helpful than dwelling on it.

I’m very grateful to everyone who’s bought the first edition of my new book. Every copy comes with a digital version of my the album and I’m sharing music in the TJF Music Club and here as it unfolds. 

Listen to I Turned Real to Me on Substack :https://shywestern.substack.com/p/i-turned-real-to-me?selectQuote=true

Or via the TJF Music Club : https://www.thejoyformidable.com/products/tjf-music-club-monthly-plan