Singer/songwriter Aisha Badru reminds us that the revolution starts within on “Life to Live,” the lead single off her forthcoming sophomore album and an enchanting, empowering song about finding – and harnessing – our own inner light.
Stream: “Life to Live” – Aisha Badru
It’s your life to live, if you want to leave then go, run off the beaten path, smell every single rose…
Dazzling rays of warm, radiant light soak the ears and soul as Aisha Badru’s first song of the year come into view.
We’re all on our own individual paths – slowly discovering ourselves, figuring out who we are and who we want to be – and on “Life to Live,” the New York singer/songwriter reminds us that the revolution starts within. Her music inspires as her words empower us to be true to ourselves and find our inner light.
Take your time
It’s your life
There’s no rush
Close your eyes, fantasize, focus
What does your heart want?
What are you afraid of?
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering “Life to Live,” Aisha Badru’s first song of the year and the lead single off her forthcoming sophomore album (details TBD, via Nettwerk Music Group). An irresistibly evocative, down-to-Earth artist with a heart of gold and the vocals to match, Badru has been a mainstay of these pages for several years now; since emerging in 2015, she has consistently captured meaningful aspects of the human experience through beautifully vulnerable, vibrantly expressive songs.
In addition to her debut album Pendulum (released in 2018), she has released no less than six EPs to date, each of which serves not only to track her constant artistic growth, but also to highlight the many ways in which our souls are bound – to one another; to nature; and to the universe.
Whereas so much of Badru’s artistry post-2020 has felt outward-facing – embracing and interacting with our surroundings – her latest EP, 2023’s achingly beautiful Learning to Love Again, as well as her brand new song, dwell on the goings-on within. In some ways, “Life to Live” feels like an extension – or an evolution – of its predecessor, as the artist follows a record about about bruised, broken hearts and self-care with a song about following your dreams, being true to your heart, and letting no one stand in the way of living the life you want to live.
She comes to a climax in her glistening song’s sweetly stirring, soul-baring chorus:
It’s your life to live
If you want to leave then go
Run off the beaten path
Smell every single rose
Don’t you be afraid
You’re gonna make mistakes
Nobody really has the answers anyway
It’s your life to live
You’ve got a life to live
It’s your life to live
You’ve got a life to live
“‘Life to Live’ is an anthem about self-discovery and living authentically,” Badru tells Atwood Magazine. “It encourages us to slow down, listen to our hearts, and chase our dreams, even if it means taking a less traveled path.”
“This song celebrates the importance of finding your own way and sharing your unique light with the world.”
It takes a while
You’ve got time
There’s no rush
Reach inside
Find your light
Then show us
What does your heart say?
Your journey lights the way
‘Life to Live’ is a call for freedom and exploration. This song celebrates living life on your own terms, rejecting societal pressures, and embracing the journey of self-discovery.
Bold and buoyant, empathetic and impassioned, “Life to Live” is a soul-stirring, smile-inducing reminder that you – and only you – are in the driver’s seat of your life.
The artist lights a fire within as she captures a simple, yet oft-forgotten truth that we too easily neglect in our daily lives.
“It’s your life to live, and you’ve got a right to live… so live your life,” Badru sings at the song’s very end; these are perhaps some of the most meaningful, emotionally-charged words she’s ever sung aloud, and they speak truth to power in terms of what it means to truly be alive, and in pursuit of happiness.
And at the end of the day, isn’t a happy life what we’re all working to have – and to maintain?
Stream Aisha Badru’s brilliant new single exclusively on Atwood Magazine, and get lost in the wonder and beauty of this rich, spiritual song. “Life to Live” is out everywhere March 22, 2024 via Nettwerk,
It’s your life to live
If you want to leave then go
Run off the beaten path
Smell every single rose
Don’t you be afraid
You’re gonna make mistakes
Nobody really has the answers anyway
It’s your life to live
You’ve got a life to live
It’s your life to live
You’ve got a life to live
It’s your life to live
And you’ve got a right to live
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Stream: “Life to Live” – Aisha Badru
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