Dear Creatives,
Welcome to another Because Creativity guest letter, where we pause from life’s endless demands for a short interlude, to dwell on creativity, imagination, and beauty. For joy alone.
Today’s guest letter is from
, a vibrant spirit from the picturesque Ribble Valley. As a writer, joy-seeker, and new cat mum (quite obsessed with her feline companion!), Janelle brings a unique blend of creativity and warmth to everything she does. Her passion for reading, exploring libraries, and attending musicals adds richness to her life, while her newfound love for birdwatching and dancing around the house to pop music reflects her joyful, lively approach. Janelle’s zest for life and her openness to all that brings beauty and joy make her a delightful guide on any creative journey.Today, I am honoured to not only share Janelle’s written voice, which on its own touched my heart deeply, but also a truly moving video clip that gives us a glimpse of her rich, resonant singing voice. In the clip, Janelle sings an original song, My Old Self, in a room at home with the most beautiful acoustics, harmonising with a recording of herself and filling the space with her beautiful voice; capturing an intimate, powerful moment of self-expression.
For the first time, this Because Creativity post features a voiceover narrated by both Janelle and me, including the audio of her gorgeous singing to delight you all over again.
Janelle inherited her singing voice as an heirloom from her grandmother. Through her story, Janelle reminds us of the deeply personal and profound connections that creative acts can forge, allowing us to cherish not only the art but also the memories and emotions it carries forward.
I cannot begin to describe what an honour it is to share this with you; Janelle's bravery in opening up her heart to us through her music is truly inspiring, and this beautiful snippet encapsulates not only her talent but also the deep emotional connection that art can create. It’s a privilege to offer you this window into her world, a moment that I know will resonates with you.
Take it away, Janelle.
I was born with a voice. Genetically passed down as an heirloom from my Grandma.
This is a story I love to believe in my heart, though I can’t say for sure that it works like that.
My Grandma, Phyl, had a glorious and resonant soprano singing voice. Throughout her life, her voice would fill churches and halls.
As a very young girl, I can remember discovering that I had a big voice inside me too, not that I was brave enough to use it at first.
My Mum must have heard me trying it out, because I have a vivid memory of her urging me to sing for Grandma ‘like you did at home’. But even at that delicate age, I’d somehow learned that it was best to stay quiet and small. The nerves swirled up from the floor around my arms, my legs and my voice. I hid behind the sofa.
My voice wasn’t something to be shared. It was a secret. Something to, perhaps, enjoy in safe privacy when no one else was around.
And when I say enjoy, I do mean enjoy. Because, using my voice to its full potential, filling my lungs to capacity and letting melodic notes roar out feels…wow. It feels like floating up above the world, like every single colour, like forgetting every past and future thought.
It took me a long time to believe that using my voice, loudly, was okay.
I need to sing. It’s like a build-up inside me. Sometimes I crave those times when I can let rip and sing, sing, sing.
We both have this gift. Grandma and I. And I cherish this connection between us.
Now though, her voice has sadly vanished forever. As has her brilliant, loving, funny, matriarchal self. Stolen ever so slowly by dementia.
Grandma has been unwell for many, many years. To the point where, sometimes, precious exchanges are repeated again and again.
I have told her more times than I can count; “I’m a singer, too”. More times that I can count, I’ve watched her light up at this discovery. This shared connection. “Oh, I’m so glad!”
Then, sometimes, I’ll sing for her. A Christmas carol or a song from a musical. She is thrilled, beaming and glowing with pride.
I wonder if maybe it stirs something within her. Does she hear a little of her lost voice in mine?
I’m grateful to Emily for inviting me to share a creative act that I do for joy alone.
Singing is one of mine.
Though I have previously been paid to sing (which I still can’t actually believe) and sometimes I am gifted the utter privilege of singing at people’s special occasions, the majority of my singing now is just for me, in the moment. No audience, no recording. Just expression.
Sometimes it’s an ephemeral hum. Often it’s a harmony with a vocal powerhouse coming out of the speaker. Sometimes it’s a musical theatre favourite like No Good Deed from Wicked!
I make full unfettered use of the fact that we now live in a detached house. Over the years I have been shushed and sworn at through shared walls. (Which was totally fair. My voice is LOUD)
So, being able to sing now at a hundred percent is a joy. A creative joy.
What is yours? Whether it’s dancing or drawing, playing the piano or gardening. Whatever it is that helps you float above the world, do it.
Your creative outlet is a gift. It’s not about being ‘good’. It’s about how it feels.
One day my voice will be gone. So whilst I have it. I will keep on singing.
Creative acts don’t always need an audience. Sometimes, they’re just for us, lifting us up and filling us with something unexplainably joyful. Janelle originally wrote this piece on 13 May 2024, capturing her deep connection with her grandmother before she died on 11 July 2024. It wasn’t the right time to share her heartfelt reflections until now, but the wait has made this moment even more poignant. Her bond with her grandmother through their shared gift of song speaks to the lasting, soul-deep connections that creativity brings into our lives. So whatever your own creative joy may be, whether it’s singing, dancing, drawing, writing, crafting, or another form of expression, embrace it fully. In the end, it’s about the feeling, the freedom, and the moment.
Thank you, Janelle, for sharing your voice with us and inspiring us all to keep celebrating creativity, just because.
If you enjoyed Janelle’s reflections on creativity and the beauty of song, you can find more of her writing on her Substack, Because She Has To. True to its name, it’s a place where Janelle writes with honesty and heart about creative blocks, self-doubt, and the joy she seeks in everyday life. Each post is a warm invitation to join her as she explores creativity on her own terms, reminding us all of the beauty found in simply doing what we love.
Though I haven’t sung in public since school, I often sing in private to my favourite songs. There’s something freeing about letting go and embracing the music, imagining, just for a moment, that my voice is good enough to share on a stage someday. Singing in private gives me that joyful escape, and I think so many of us have these hidden creative moments, whether they’re loud or quiet, polished or spontaneous, shared or kept just for us.
I’d love to hear about your own creative joys, however big or small. If you feel inspired, please share in the comments. Let’s celebrate the ways we all bring a little more beauty into the world, just because.
Bye for now,
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