“As I’ve gotten older it’s a different process than when I was young and angsty, of course,” says Bowersox of her songwriting. “It was like things were pouring out of me—I couldn’t stop writing. Now I’m older. I’m a little more mellow. I’m writing songs about happier things.”
With such contentedness, she explains, she feels more confident in exploring her craft all the more. “The more I write the more I unlock,” she says. “I’m sure I’ll discover that my boundaries keep broadening. They keep moving away and opening up more and more as I get older.”
Is anything off-limits now, anyone she wouldn’t overtly address in a song? “I wouldn’t write a song about how annoying my husband can be at times,” Bowersox replies, laughing.
“Life is about making connections with people and sharing that face time—not FaceTime on your phone. Life is precious. People and friendships are precious. It’s about quality not quantity in your life. If you have a pretty good quality of life, then you’re doing it right. Ani DiFranco said in one of her songs, ‘If you’re not getting happier as you get older then you’re fuckin’ up.’ You’re supposed to be getting happier as you get older. If you are then you’re doing it right. If you’re not then you’ve got to figure out why and what’s happening. Look at your choices. How are you contributing to that? I believe that’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned these days is all about accountability and relationships in life.”
The most prevalent adversity she contends with, it’d be fair to say, is type-1 diabetes. “It’s tough for sure,” Bowersox concedes, “but it’s just part of my life and it has been for as long as I can remember.”
That doesn’t mean dealing with it every day is not easy. Then again, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible either. The way she seems to view it is to say it could be worse, because, for a time it was. “Before Idol I didn’t have health insurance.” she recalls. “I couldn’t get ahold of insulin when I needed it, and that’s not just medicine; it’s life-or-death.”
Fans who followed her on the show will remember when she fainted backstage prior to her scheduled performance. By then, fortunately, she was able to receive immediate care and, as for her performance, she was allowed to reschedule for the following night.
“’Dead Weight’” was about finally being responsible enough to really take care of myself so that I could function the best way that my body knows how. My brain functions better when it gets oxygen and my body functions better when it gets insulin and proper nutrients and things. Letting dead weight go is like growing up, living from the best, most honest place that I can.”
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