Nick Tressler
Raised Rowdy Founder
Sometimes you catch lighting in a bottle. Sometimes when writers sit down to delve into a story, something magical happens. Sometimes it’s described as channeling the world or cosmic. Regardless of what you want to call it, moments like these lead to some of the best songs you can imagine.
The first time Jordan Fletcher and Kalsey Kulyk sat down to write they had one of these magical moments. Real, relatable emotions are what makes the best country songs. A sad memory or event can lead you to a place where the healing starts. Jordan explains, “I lost my father when I was 11 and I feel like God was waiting for the right moment for me to get to express that experience and the emotions that can get suppressed over time.”
Kalsey brought her own experiences into the write as well. At a young age, Kalsey fought and beat cancer. That battle helped shape who she is not just as a person, but as a songwriter. She goes on to tell us, “When Jordan came in with the idea Hurts like Heaven I immediately thought of my friend who had passed away from cancer when were were both going through chemo. We shared such a beautiful friendship and losing him was one of the hardest things I ever went through. But I know he’s in a better place. Hurts like Heaven says it all in the title. The pain of losing a loved one always goes hand in hand with knowing that they’re finally at peace.”
The emotions caused by these harrowing events are often enough to break down a human being, but can also help create something so beautiful and perfect that can help heal other’s going through something similar. Time can heal some of the wounds, but the magic of a song like “Hurts Like Heaven” can help the process. Even if it is just for three minutes when listening to this song, your emotions lead to a post song feeling of beauty and healing.
“I didn’t realize how significant it was going to be for me emotionally to get to be a part of this song as we were writing it… especially now that my father has been gone so long. But, beyond it being therapeutic for me, I pray it can bring some sort of peace to anyone that has experienced any sort of loss in their lives. Music helped me through some of the darkest times in my life and if some song I’m a part of is able to bring any sort of peace to someone else I would be truly humbled,” Jordan describes.
Kalsey explains it as: “Hurts like Heaven says it all in the title. The pain of losing a loved one always goes hand in hand with knowing that they’re finally at peace. I hope that whoever is going through the grief of losing someone can relate with this song and feel some fort or relief or comfort in knowing that they’re not alone and that their angel is looking over them”.
This song truly does just that. It is a emotional rollercoaster that is bound to be cathartic to so many. I know through my own experiences that music is my greatest partner in healing. It helps when I think nothing can. So let’s let the healing begin. Without further ado here is Jordan Fletcher and Kalsey Kulyk’s lightening in a bottle, Hurts Like Heaven.