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<\/a>\u201cCarli was like, \u2018I do have this song idea, and this title, and a bit of a verse written and I really want to play it for you guys,\u2019\u201d says Johnson. \u201cImmediately, before she even started singing, I had goosebumps\u2026 It was just magical and emotional in the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson says that before the trio went about writing or critiquing the song, they shared stories about being women in a male-dominated industry, and talked about the struggles that come from that, and the lessons that are learned.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes our stories, our voices, our opinions aren\u2019t always as valued, or we feel like we have to prove ourselves more than some of the guys,\u201d says Johnson. \u201cThat\u2019s not always the case, but we were just talking about some of those challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carli grabbed her guitar, sat beneath the strung-up patio lights and played more or less exactly what can be heard on the track now, which she says is a rarity in songwriting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just came out. We all started singing in harmony,\u201d says Carli. \u201cIn my recollection, it all just flowed out. We finished. We were like, \u2018Wait, what did we just do?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Cali says it was lucky that Julie had the recorder running on her iPhone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI literally live for songwriting sessions that go [like] that,\u201d says Julie. \u201cThat is not every day. Those are the stories you hear because those are the magical days, but there\u2019re so many days where you don\u2019t even finish the song.\u201d<\/p>\n
The three agree that the song was intentionally structured in a way that would take the listener on a journey through a woman\u2019s struggle with equality, starting with the lyrics, \u201cAnother year still looking younger than my age\/That don\u2019t matter, I\u2019m told to lie about it anyway,\u201d and eventually progressing to, \u201cI\u2019ve learned saying no won\u2019t make me weak\/And turning a blind eye won\u2019t hide what you don\u2019t want to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first verse is like these messages that we hear that we hope that the next generation of women don\u2019t get told,\u201d says Julie. \u201cLike \u2018Play nice,\u2019 \u2018Play house,\u2019 all those things. \u2018Don\u2019t stir the pot, don\u2019t speak up too loud.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Julie says that those are things all women have been told, sometimes in an outright way, but often times, it\u2019s much more subtle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was definitely what we wanted to say first,\u201d she says. \u201cPut it out there and be blunt with it\u2026 As women, we\u2019ve all felt that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The message to women is that \u201cwe have to be there for each other.\u201d To men, the message is to be a \u201cwise man,\u201d says, Carli\u2014be willing to listen, and to also have those conversations. Equality is something that can be fought for, says Julie, but, hopefully, one day, it won\u2019t have to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can fight for this beautiful world where we can now live and all have our voices heard,\u201d she says, \u201cand we\u2019re really hopeful for that.\u201d<\/p>\n