The Art of Being Alone is the first EP release from independent Christian singer-songwriter Alan Cox. The release features 8 songs that deal with human emotions like heartbreak, loss, looking for identity, self-worth, and the resolve to move on from pain and rise above it.
"Bury the Pain is an upbeat rock track that deals with the Christian's journey to overcome past guilt, shame and sins that inevitably try to come back and distract from walking with Christ after surrendering your life. The resolve is to stand and fight, not surrendering your happiness and future to things of the past.
Everything's Okay is a first person analysis of a lifestyle of performance to appease everyone around you. Sometimes in life it's easier to pretend to be okay, than to admit when things are going wrong and ask for help. Growing up is finally realizing that there's more to life than trying to turn yourself into someone's idea of you, and understanding that God sees who you really are, so you don't have to pretend for His love.
What I'd Do asks the question: "If I had no fear, how would I live my life?" It's a painful question, but a powerful moment of self-reflection and declaration that you're "tired of watching days go by when I'm the one who's paralyzed" because "I have let me redefine what it means to be alive", instead of going after the dreams in your heart.
Dress Up deals with a relationship where the other person refuses to be vulnerable, even when you can tell there's something eating them away inside and you try to be there for them. It's easier for them to keep playing the game and putting on a show than it is to reckon with the things that need to be addressed.
Happier Than Me showcases the feelings and range of emotions after your first break up: what it's like to walk on eggshells around people, figuring out what to say in conversations that doesn't make you look like the bad guy, and ultimately not needing to be happy, just needing to appear happier to everyone else than the person who broke up with you. It's the push and pull, the back and forth feelings that come in the initial moments after the heartbreak.
Only Chance I Had is a song about feeling more safe always having someone as a friend than risking the friendship for something more. The song deals with the emotional pain of drifting away from a dream that never came to be.
Inhale, Exhale (Interlude)
Goodbye is an anthem that declares power and freedom from a relationship that was deeply narcissistic and hurtful. The verse highlights themes of realizing that the main character doesn't need to "settle for a love that didn't love me" and that peace can finally come from moving on and cutting loose from the ties that held you down in an emotionally unhealthy relationship."
- Alan Cox
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