Editor’s Note: Nelson Sobral is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter and guitarist. Earlier this year he released his latest album três!, and last we we put a spotlight on one of our favorite tracks from the album, “Must’ve Done Something Right”. Below, Sobral penned an exclusive essay for SWT about the importance of writing songs and performing.
I’ve been chasing songs most of my life. It hasn’t always been pretty. I’ve played in rooms where the crowd didn’t care, and nights where nothing worked the way it should. Those nights teach you something. You learn to play for the love of it. You learn to mean every note.
My sound grew out of the music that shaped me. Blues and soul gave me heart, country gave me words, and rock and roll gave me freedom. I owe as much to Otis Redding as I do to Kris Kristofferson and Keith Richards. They taught me that a great song isn’t about perfection. It’s about honesty and feel.
Writing songs is never the same twice. Some fall out of the sky in ten minutes. Others make you wrestle every line. I’ve learned to stay patient, trust the process, and keep showing up. The good ones stick around.
My latest album, três!, came together through its own set of battles. I tracked most of it live off the floor, then finished the rest at home. It’s raw by design. These songs come from life as I know it now, family, loss, redemption, and the quiet moments that keep you grounded. One of them, “Must’ve Done Something Right,” was written in Japan while watching my wife play with our boys. A small moment that turned into a big reminder of how lucky I am, even after all the wrong turns.
I’m not here to chase trends or pretend to be something I’m not. I make music because it’s who I am. If it connects with you, that’s awesome. If it doesn’t, I’ll still be out there doing what I’ve always done, trying to write the next song that feels true.
Nelson Sobral
Contributor
Nelson is a Toronto-based singer/songwriter and guitarist
