A few weeks ago, I had the absolute honor of meeting Leith Ross and hearing about their new album, “I Can See The Future.”
During that time I got to listen to Ross not only share thoughts and ideas about the new album, but also learn more about them as a long term fan. “I Can See The Future” is not just an album of connecting to what is yet to come, but also a reminder that even in the current state of our world, hope, positivity, and love are things that will continue to occur and even prosper long after we are gone.
The album itself features songs like “Grieving” and “Stay,” both which discuss the many different forms that love can evolve into. Ross states that the songs are supposed to be a intertwining of reality and hope. A rejection of the current cynicism and doomsday feelings conquering people’s minds today. However, Ross’ intentions with this album was not to say that everyone should put on a smile and endure the tragedies occurring worldwide, but to remember that the world can and will always return to goodness because they, me, and anyone reading this are good people.
While listening to Ross’ answers to many of my fellow interviewers, the concept of “good people” equaling a “good world,” came to me many times. It’s something that Ross clearly believes in very much, I mean just hearing them speak filled me with hope. That concept wasn’t something I truly believed in before, but it actually makes sense.
The songs “Grieving” and “Stay,” both released before the full album, depict this sense of energy or potential being left behind when you’re gone, but also being cultivated while you’re still alive.
For example, “Grieving” discusses this deeper feeling of grieving what could’ve or could be. It also focuses on grieving real people. Love, as mentioned by Ross, gives way to grief. It’s choosing to love someone or believe in something that gives love the power to hurt you, but also to heal you. I, myself, love many people, but one day I won’t be able to laugh with them or hug them ever again, but I would never trade my time with them. And each time I laugh with them, I realize that not only do I love them, but that I will also one day lose them and that I have to prepare myself for that day.
This is what “Grieving,” to me, is about. It’s about realizing what will be lost and loving it or believing in it anyway and honoring what it was or what it felt like before it’s gone. It was a great reminder to stay present and to realize I’m in the process of making great moments, but that they’re only great moments because they will one day come to an end.
“Stay” is the other end of this feeling. It’s a song about community and making these moments that are and will one day be grieved. Ross inputs this cyclical feeling to the album as well. A life, death, and rebirth of sorts in my opinion.
While in the conference, I also had the honor of listening to the teaser for “Point of View” on the album, which I will say has been on repeat since it came out. The song not only rocked me and my fellow peers into a happy stupor, it set me at ease. I had waited in anticipation of its release because it spoke to this feeling of uncertainty I have when it comes to relationships, platonic or romantic. It speaks to wanting to understand people’s perspectives on you, but never fully being able to experience yourself through someone else’s eyes.
It however doesn’t succumb to this melancholy feeling of “never truly knowing someone,” it instead reminds us to focus on knowing, deeply understanding, and empathizing with what’s shown to us. I will never fully understand why people do what they do or how they view me, but I can connect with what they share with me. If someone genuinely laughs at a joke I tell, I don’t need to dwell on whether they think I’m funny or not. “Point of View” says to focus on the fact that this person is experiencing genuine laughter and that this is a moment of connection with a fellow human being, no matter how small.
In my opinion, it’s a reminder to stay present and honest about how you feel. Each moment, good or bad, happy or sad, is a moment of connection with someone else. A moment to foster understanding. “Point of View” asks the question, “how beautiful is it that we will never truly know what’s in someone’s head, but that we can get to genuinely know them anyway just by connecting.”
It was truly an honor getting to meet Ross and hear their words of wisdom. I, too, feel like I can finally see what the future will be like for my descendants. I’m a good person. My friends and family are good people. And Ross says that you are a good person as well, and as long as we all exist and share that goodness and kindness from generation to generation, no matter what occurs in the world, goodness will exist— because we are good people.
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