We Speak Music

Marsha Swanson Returns With “Waltz for Life”

Published

9 months ago

January 30, 2026

Emily

Marsha Swanson wrote “Waltz for Life” when she was 14 years old, and that raw creative instinct still pulses through the final recording. The track arrives now as the last single from her album “Near Life Experience,” two years after the record first introduced listeners to its themes of mortality and memory.

The strings carry this beautiful weight without ever feeling heavy. They move like someone remembering how to dance after years away from the floor, finding that familiar rhythm again. Graceful, yes, but with a wonderful looseness that keeps things from feeling too precious or rehearsed.

Swanson’s decision to release this track last creates a satisfying loop. The whole record deals with heavier themes about what we leave behind, so circling back to this hopeful opening feels like taking a deep breath after holding it for too long. Genuine optimism lives here, the kind that acknowledges darkness but chooses light anyway.

The waltz form itself does so much work. That three count pulse becomes a metaphor you can actually feel rather than just understand intellectually. Life does move in patterns like this, flowing and turning, always in motion even when we think we’re standing still.

Sam Chegini’s animation apparently brings together every technique he’s used across their collaborations, mixing film, claymation, and hand drawn work. The approach mirrors what Swanson does musically: blending innocence with experience, past with present.

You can listen here. Keep up to date with Marsha on Instagram here.

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Koe Wetzel Surprises Fans With “Hard Way” Feat. Stephen Wilson Jr. Ahead of Sold-Out Red Rocks Show

Published

6 hours ago

October 28, 2026

We Speak Media

Ahead of tonight’s penultimate show of The Night Champion World Tour, Koe Wetzel surprised fans with the release of “Hard Way,” rounding out the deluxe edition of his critically acclaimed sixth studio album, The Night Champion. Listen to “Hard Way” and order The Night Champion (Deluxe) on vinyl via KoeWetzelMusic.com.

“Hard Way” finds Wetzel teaming up with fellow genre-bending artist Stephen Wilson Jr. for the final addition to the project that has given fans a steady flow of new music since its initial arrival in June. The hard-charging, guitar-forward anthem unites the pair’s growling vocals in a rock-fueled tale of lessons learned through a life lived on the edge.

“It’s been a hell of a ride with this record, and we weren’t quite done yet. Before the sun comes up on The Night Champion, we’ve got one more song left to play,” shares Wetzel. “I’ve been a fan of Stephen’s for a while now, and we got to play a bunch of shows together last year, so I’m fired up to have a song together now, too.”

The surprise release arrives as Wetzel continues a career-defining run, with current single “Jaded” feat. Ella Langley Top 10-and-climbing at Country radio and reaching a new peak of No. 18 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.

Following this week’s conclusion of The Night Champion World Tour, Wetzel reunites with Parker McCollum for the return of their Naughty or Nice Tour, with six sold-out acoustic shows across Texas to celebrate the holiday season.

The Night Champion (Deluxe) Track List: 1. Sinner 2. Hard Way feat. Stephen Wilson Jr. 3. Circus 4. Jaded feat. Ella Langley 5. Hurts Like You 6. Bad Decisions 7. Time Goes On 8. Meet You There 9. Dollar and a Bottle 10. Magnet 11. The Man 12. Ronnie Ray 13. Nowhere Fast 14. Rollin and Smokin 15. I’ll Lock Up 16. Surrounded 17. When I Was

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