Artist Spotlight

Erik Lunde’s “Steel Militia” Wrestles With The Painful Legacy of the Afghanistan War

Erik Lunde releases the single “Steel Militia” on August 27th in the shadow of America’s disquieting exit from Afghanistan, 20 years after the events of 9/11 led to “America’s Longest War.” As a self-described “Tolstoyan Christian Pacifist” who tries to live by the principles of non-violence laid out in the “Sermon On The Mount”, Lunde wrote the lyrics to “Steel Militia” from his despair over the tragic American military response to 9/11 after reading the devastating true story of the Wise Brothers in a Washington Post article entitled “One Family, Two Sacrifices”. The article told the story of the passions and motivations of two patriotic brothers from Arkansas who both enlisted and were killed in the war in Afghanistan. Written in the narrative storytelling vein of classic American folk songs like Bob Dylan’s “Masters Of War” and Pete Seeger’s “Waist Deep in The Big Muddy”, the song serves as a powerful, anti-war protest song that is dedicated to the memory and sacrifice of the over 2,300 American soldiers that tragically died in Afghanistan.

As the final American forces leave the country to meet the September 11th withdrawal deadline, “Steel Militia” wrestles with the extreme religious fundamentalism that led to 9/11 and sparked the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. While the lyric critiques the dark ideological forces and politics that started the wars, it also empathizes with the passionate devotion to God and country that burns in the hearts of young soldiers who enlist to fight in foreign wars – pondering the sense of futility and hopelessness that some surviving veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have experienced. As a songwriter dedicated to peace and reconciliation, Lunde wants it to be clear that the song is not an “anti-soldier” song – but is an anti-war song about the “wages of death” in wars that arise from extreme religious fundamentalism. Having performed “Steel Militia” at a Wounded Warriors retreat and seen the emotion that it provoked in Afghanistan veterans, Lunde hopes that by releasing this song into the world he can help raise awareness of the important work that the Wounded Warriors Foundation does for America’s soldiers. “This is why I support the important work of the Wounded Warriors Foundation – and hope to use this song to raise awareness of their work with our wounded veterans,” says Lunde.

Erik Lunde Soapstone Natural Area. Guitar.

“As a Christian pacifist who tries to live by the principles of non-violence, I wrote this song because I was deeply anguished by the events of 9/11, our subsequent invasion of Iraq, and the seemingly futile outcome of the occupation of Afghanistan.” – Erik Lunde

A folk-rock poet and Americana songsmith with a captivating voice, cinematic songs, and a dynamic stage presence, Colorado-based artist Erik Lunde “pens lyrics that are haunting and memorable poetry married with one of the widest arrays of melodies this area knows”. Having lived and wandered all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, hopping from place to place like a character in a Jack Kerouac novel, searching for stories and songs and experiences, and chalking up about 40 different addresses across North America, Erik Lunde is a songwriter and musician whose songs and sound bears the geography, culture, and history of his midwestern origins. Influenced by a wide variety of genres including gospel hymns, bluegrass, traditional country, rock & roll, and artists like Elton John, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, The Beatles, and David Bowie – Lunde has created his own genre-bending mashup that reflects that dichotomy. The founder and frontman of the Lunde Station band, a well-known staple on the Northern Colorado music scene from 2012 -2017, Lunde has re-emerged as a solo singer-songwriter, performing under his own name, searching for stories and songs and experiences, and chalking up about 40 different addresses across North America, he’s still chasing that same crazy dream with the stories and songs on this new record.

|

Connect with Erik Lunde:

Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Spotify

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Artist Spotlight

Noah Zayden releases a new single “Fuego”

With “Fuego,” Zayden turns the tables. It’s still personal, still vulnerable, but this time the narrative moves toward hope. Inspired by the realness of heartbreak and the fear of love lost, Fuego is like watching emotional armor slowly melt. The beat is subdued but warm, and his vocal delivery has a fragility that makes every line sound confessional.

It’s not only how to fall in love, it’s also how to learn to trust again after being burned. There’s something beautiful about that vulnerability, something powerful about electing to jump anyway. “Fuego” just speaks the truth. And in its simplicity, it glows bright.

Stream this song:

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Artist Spotlight

“I AM Good Enough” by TaniA Kyllikki evokes a soaring melodic anthem to liberate self-affirmation

TaniA Kyllikki has never been one to shy away from vulnerability as she demonstrates commendable resilience in her soul-stirring new single, “I AM Good Enough.” This composition serves as a melodic awakening and represents a multifaceted artistic interpretation of an uplifting ballad. At its core, it is fundamentally a deeply personal assertion of self-love and emotional rebirth that hits right.

From the outset, TaniA’s voice trembles sincerely, soaring effortlessly through a meticulously stripped-back arrangement that deliberately foregrounds her message to take center stage. Her angelic harmonies envelop the listener, creating a comforting and powerful embrace. The inclusion of collaborative vocal harmonies provided by her husband, Rynellton, introduces an intimate dimension, fostering a collective aspiration for healing that amplifies the emotional significance, enhancing the overall impact of the narrative.

Lyrically, “I AM Good Enough” addresses the psychological consequences of abuse and self-doubt, illuminating the often-silenced struggles of diminished self-esteem. The song conveys a message of triumph, encouraging a reconceptualization of self-worth. With every intriguing note, TaniA affirms that liberation is attainable when individuals cease to accept the false narratives that try to define them as not enough. TaniA channels her experiences into a performance that feels deeply empathetic and human, as though she’s singing directly to the parts of us we’ve forgotten how to love.