Chained by Alwyn Morrison

"'Chained' was the first song I ever recorded. I've released other songs before, but this was the first time I actually stepped into a studio and sang into a mic. Honestly, I wasn't thinking about releasing it at all - I just needed to get it out. If that makes sense?

Writing the song wasn't enough; I had to sing it, say it out loud. I remember feeling super comfortable in that moment, not worried about hitting every note. It was more about expressing myself. My producer was great, and he just captured everything. The vocals we ended up using for the final track are from that very first recording session.

I actually don't even remember writing the lyrics. It was a pretty hectic day - I was traveling from New York to Amsterdam for work, but before heading to the airport, I took a quick walk through Central Park. As I started thinking about the song, this wave of emotion hit me, and I knew I had to write it down.

I didn't have time until I got on the plane, but once I sat down, I just pulled out my phone and started typing. It felt like the song just poured out all at once, and then I fell asleep. I woke up, and the whole thing was written. It's still one of the few songs I've ever made where I didn't change a single word from that original version. The emotion was just there, and it still hits me the same way.

In the chorus, when I sing about being 'in a dark room,' it's really a metaphor for dealing with depression. This song is my most personal creation yet. It's about loving someone with depression - being "in a dark room" - and the impact it has on my life: wanting to stay but feeling trapped. I'd do anything to help, but it's out of my control, and every effort feels like a failure. It's a song about resilience, empathy, and the challenge of loving someone through their toughest times.

As personal as this song is, I think 'Chained' is something a lot of people can relate to. We've all felt stuck or bound to certain emotions, experiences, or people at some point. At its heart, it's about resilience, empathy, and the emotional toll of loving someone through their hardest times. I hope people listening can connect with that feeling of being there for someone, even when it's tough, and know they're not alone in that."
- Alwyn Morrison