Je veux avoir toujours la force (I want to always have the strength)
In the first draft of the song, as random words started falling into place with the melody, the word “force” kept coming up. In French, it means both physical and mental strength. Something in the music gave me a sense of motivation. I actually really needed that.
Find the strength to keep going.
I wish I had that strength.
"I want to always have the strength." It was finally with that sentence that the lyrics of the song started to take shape, step by step. I was less interested in telling a story than in expressing that state of mind. I felt a lot of pressure around me, and I really needed to keep my bearings.
The theme of staying true to oneself is both personal and universal. It’s a profound and far‑reaching topic. We hear a lot of calls to action like ‘Stay true to yourself’, but in the end we’re very much on our own when it comes to finding the right path.
So, my song is rooted in my personal journey. Inner strength, at least the way it resonates with me — means staying true to yourself, but also rising. Becoming a better and better version of who you are, as you make your way forward. **“Don’t give any power to what others think. Keep going, even when you’re criticized. Stay true to yourself, with integrity. Walk toward the light, no matter how hard it gets.” That was what I needed to hear, and to hear from myself, at that moment. And I think it can resonate with many people.**
I sing this song with almost nothing but my guitar. The arrangements are minimal — just a hint of color — and I layered a second guitar line to answer the melody with crystalline patterns.
I drew the cover: floral curves over an abstract landscape rendered in azure ink.