10. "Life of the Party" by Michael Sanchez

"Do you know what it feels like to fall apart and smile at the same time?"
With this poignant question, Dallas-based pop artist Michael Sanchez articulated the feelings that fueled not only the creation of his thoughtful banger, "Life of the Party," but his entire album, appropriately titled The Other Side of Fear. Amidst a pulsing bass and an electronic soundscape, Sanchez muses about the limitations of a party lifestyle and the complex emotions that lifestyle may be obscuring. In this episode, Emmeline and Michael discuss mental health as an active pursuit, the gifts and blessings in the COVID-19 lockdown, and how sitting in and writing through his emotions has led Michael to the happiest place in which he's ever been. They also talk about working with children, defying the definitions imposed by entertainment media, and giving people permission to be okay with not being okay. They take a brief detour to dissect the pop landscape of the late 1990s and early 2000s, with an enthusiastic examination of how Britney Spears and her live performances helped to define an era.
To follow Michael's journey, or to hear more from his full-length album, The Other Side of Fear, find him on Instagram at @michaelsanchez_official or visit his official website. For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of a Song, follow Emmeline on Instagram at @EmmelineMusic.

For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.