Lawrence Rothman “The Meaning”
Americana Highways is hosting this premiere of Lawrence Rothman’s song “The Meaning,” co-written with Madi Diaz, from Rothman’s forthcoming album Here Lies Love/ Sawdust to Stardust, which was produced and mixed by Lawrence Rothman. The album was recorded at Sound Emporium in Nashville, and is set for release on September 25.
Lawrence Rothman told us about the song, ” In this modern world of anxiety, social pressure, and the endless need to be heard, seen, or loved, I find myself questioning what is the meaning of this “performance” we call life?
“’The Meaning’ is my song to myself forgiving myself for my failures -coming to terms with my own personal truth and finding self love through ‘the wounds and the wins.’
“When I sing, “When I see you living / I see me living,” it is about connection. Within the context of the album, it becomes a moment where years of depression, addiction, sacrifice, and searching collapse into a single realization: the meaning is not fame, achievement, recognition, or even survival alone ..it’s about really loving yourself, not in an egotistical way… to then become adequate to actually love others.
“The line “the dirt is my heart beating” ties into my new album’s recurring themes of burial and rebirth. Dirt becomes both grave and soil, the place where old versions of ourselves are laid to rest, but also where new version of your life begin. It represents the transformation of suffering into growth, of darkness into something transcendent.
“After twenty years in music and everything beyond it, I have come to believe that when my journey is finished, I will have carved myself down to dust. When the noise, the ambition, the fear, and the performance have all fallen away, the only thing worth carrying into whatever comes next is… love”
“The Meaning” is Lawrence Rothman on vocals and guitar; and Madi Diaz on guitar. The video was directed by Floria Sigismondi, edited By Jarret Fijal, with Floria Sigismondi as director of photography.
Rothman takes the deep philosophical plunge from the start: ” Why am I breathing / What is the reason / Is anybody up there / Is anybody listening?” Earthy strings and Rothman’s honest vocals probe the questions: where does meaning come from? Within or without? Crystal clear harmonies bring the three sounds – Rothman’s vocals, the guitar strings, and the harmonies – together in a quintessentially beautiful arrangement.
You can find the music here: https://lawrencerothman.ffm.to/stardust
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Lawrence Rothman “The Plow That Broke the Plains”