Does “Meaningful” Still Matter?

Every time I sit down to write, I’m chasing impact. Not noise, not trends—impact. I want lines that land, ideas that linger, something that forces you to stop scrolling and actually feel something. But the more I listen to what’s circulating right now, the more it seems like the culture has drifted away from bars, delivery, and intention. A lot of today’s music feels imaginative, yes—but also careless, rushed, and strangely proud of its own lack of depth.

And this isn’t bitterness. It’s not jealousy. It’s the frustration that comes from pursuing greatness in a landscape that increasingly rewards shortcuts. It’s wanting to be pushed by artists who take the craft seriously, who sharpen their pen instead of dulling it for convenience. Outside of the already‑established names, that energy is getting harder to find.

I have no interest in mimicking the current wave because so much of it feels surface‑level—quick hits with no spine. So I end up using my own work as the benchmark, not out of ego, but out of necessity. If I’m going to grow, I need to be challenged. I need to hear something that shifts my mood, reframes my thinking, or mirrors the weight of my own thoughts and aspirations.

That’s the real question I keep circling back to: where are the artists who still make you self‑reflect, recalibrate, and go harder? The ones who write with intention, not convenience. The ones who remind you that music can still be a catalyst, not just a backdrop.

Because honestly, it’s getting tougher to find those voices.

Tap in with what you’re listening to right now—put me on to something that actually hits.