With “Sincerely,” the artist steps into deeply human territory, telling the story of John and Sue through a series of heartfelt letters that unfold across time. Blending indie-folk roots with a swelling honky-tonk energy, the track captures the quiet weight of aging, love, and resilience with both tenderness and sharp honesty. Rooted in vivid storytelling and brought to life through inventive studio experimentation, “Sincerely” feels at once nostalgic and immediate — a song that lingers long after the final note. In this conversation, the artist opens up about the inspiration behind John and Sue’s story, the emotional core of the song, and the creative risks that shaped its dynamic, live-wire sound.
“Sincerely” centers around John and Sue’s letters. What inspired you to explore this story?
I wanted to write a story that felt realistic and relatable across different age groups. Music has a way of trapping time. You see it when you compare what your parents listened to growing up versus what you listened to. Most people have had that moment where their parents questioned their music taste, and then later you question theirs. But there’s always something special when people from different generations can agree on loving the same song. John and Sue’s story takes place later in life and deals with things like being overworked, mental health, physical pain, and emotional weight. Those are topics I think anyone can connect to at some point. Even though so much communication today is driven by technology, I wanted their story to feel timeless. Having them write letters to each other added suspense and made each part of the story feel more meaningful.
The song addresses aging and emotional weight in subtle ways. How did you balance tenderness and honesty?
Aging and the emotional struggles that come with it are not pretty, and most people do not like admitting they are getting older or facing those signs. I think a lot of people either ignore it or make light of it to cope. I wanted to bring that mindset into John and Sue’s letters. Lines like “Dear John, life’s been strong, I quit smoking after I lost my lung” carry an almost sarcastic or overly optimistic tone while dealing with something really dark. I think that feels more human. It would not be very interesting, or enjoyable, if the song was just someone complaining the entire time. That contrast made the story feel more real to me.
What role did studio experimentation play in shaping the track?
When Kory Burrell and I started working on the song, we did not know if it would end up stripped-down and acoustic or turn into a full honky-tonk-style track. A lot of that decision came from the energy of Colum’s drumming, which really invited us to build around it. I wanted the recording to sound like a live band playing in a bar. Using bottles made sense because they are things you would naturally find in that setting. We also used a cardboard box to get a deep, bass-heavy sound for dramatic effect. At first, I did not think it would be prominent enough, but after a few takes and Kory’s creative engineering, a simple cardboard box turned into something massive.
Can you explain the transition from quiet indie-folk to a more energetic, barn-burner sound?
A lot of the songs on Smoke and Mirrors were written and performed solo because I was playing most of my shows alone at the time. When I first talked to Kory about making an EP, he asked if I wanted to include other instruments, which honestly was not something I had even considered yet. My budget was pretty small since it was my first time funding my own project, so some songs stayed simple. Others, like “Far Away” and “Plastic Pearls,” really benefited from a fuller sound. I wrote “Sincerely” almost a year after starting the EP and did not expect to go back into recording so soon, but I was too excited not to share it. Even on just acoustic guitar, the song felt powerful, but I knew it had the potential to become a full-on honky-tonk barn burner.
How do the production choices enhance the narrative of the lyrics?
“Sincerely” is one of my strongest songs narratively, and we really leaned into that during production. In the final verse, there is a major emotional reveal in John and Sue’s relationship, and we wanted that moment to feel dramatic and heavy. The song has a driving train beat throughout, and we did not want to interrupt that energy until the very end. For the last verse, we stripped back the guitars and focused more on vocals and percussion. There is something psychological about hearing a sound consistently and then suddenly having it removed. Your attention is instantly pulled in. We brought in glass bottles, pots, and pans, and saved the cardboard box for the final moments to create this huge, booming impact, almost like hearing a tree fall in the middle of a forest. That section ended up being one of my favorite moments because of how spontaneous and fun it was to create.
Was there a particular emotional moment you were focused on capturing?
The last verse was always the emotional core of the song for me. I wanted it to be clear where John and Sue’s story ends, but I also wanted to show that just because a story ends does not mean everything stops there. When we play “Sincerely” live, people often start clapping after the final chorus because it feels like the song is over. But then it goes into this spacey, almost trippy outro, which is not very typical for a country-rock song. That part represents the idea that even when life ends, stories continue to live on beyond us.
How did working with Kory Burrell influence the arrangement and sonic palette of the song?
Working with Kory has been a huge blessing in my career. When we first started collaborating, he was already involved in projects with a similar folk-inspired sound, so he understood how to capture that feeling. By the time we worked on “Sincerely,” it felt like he knew exactly what I was going for without me having to explain much. There is a lot of trust in our process. We are constantly asking “What if we tried this?” or “What if we added that?” Because of that understanding, there is no hesitation in trying wild ideas, even something as simple as pulling out a cardboard box and hitting it with a mallet.
The song has a strong live energy. How do you envision performing it on stage?
After Early and “Sincerely,” I knew my next step was focusing on live performance, which meant bringing in other players. At first, I thought the biggest challenge would be making the song sound as full as it does on the recording. What I realized during rehearsals was that the song naturally feels full. The real challenge was tightening it up and controlling the dynamics. That process made me feel like a listener again instead of just a performer. I learned that less really is more. Just because the recording has multiple guitar parts does not mean they all need to be happening at once live.
How do you hope listeners connect with John and Sue?
Most of my listeners are around my age, with some being a few decades older. John and Sue are much older than most of the people I talk to about the song, so I was surprised when listeners started asking about the story and its meaning. That had never really happened to me before. One person told me the song reminded them of what their grandfather was going through, and that really stuck with me. I never expected people to dig that deeply into the lyrics, so seeing that curiosity meant a lot. “Sincerely” is a reminder of the darker parts of aging. I do not expect everyone to relate to it, but when someone does, I really feel for them.
What conversations do you hope the song sparks?
I hope it encourages people to talk more openly about mental health, especially within older generations and the healthcare system. A lot of people grew up in a time when admitting you were struggling was seen as weakness. Mental health days were not a thing, and vulnerability was not encouraged. One of the proudest moments I have had as a songwriter was when a close friend told me their dad cried after hearing “Sincerely.” That meant everything to me. Music is powerful because it can bring out emotions people might not otherwise express, and I feel honored whenever my songs are able to do that.
