Fair Game: Finding Strength, Healing, and Purpose Through Music
In an exclusive interview with GH, Fair Game reflects on the personal experiences that shaped his songwriting, the power of music to move people both physically and emotionally, and his upcoming seven-track EP, arriving November 20, 2026.
GH: Hi Fair Game, very great to have you here.
What inspired you to start writing music?
Fair Game: Thanks for having having me. Music has been a part of my life since I was a child. My father was a singer in a couple of bands as I was growing up, one of which did some recording in Nashville. I was always impressed by his approach to mastering his craft, while also- along with my mother, raising 6 kids. He approached writing and playing music with humility, a quiet strength, and a sense of humor. All approaches I have strived to maintain throughout my career, retirement, and my music business.
I’m the type of person who links songs with memories and feelings. I don’t just store the sound, my brain also stores the feeling, place, the people, and what was happening. The repetition, pattern, and timing, makes music easier to remember than ordinary speech. All of that encoding tends to give the brain more cues to find the memories later.
I can clearly recall many songs from my high school and college years, and where I was, what I was doing, and who I was with when I heard the song(s). As an adult, I went through some traumatic events, and my brain encoded both the good and bad from those events.
Certain songs bring back crystal clear memories of the pain and heartbreak, and others remind me that I used music to help myself heal.
Reading and writing have profoundly affected my life by providing positive input when my mind tends to think negative. I found that if I filled my mind with positive thoughts, it would not leave room for negative ones.
This is not only true of poems, quotes, sayings, literature, self-help books, etc., but also with song lyrics. I truly believe they have the power to heal and to help us all through this shared condition of life- the idea that we all have highs and lows.
I knew at some point that I wanted to combine my love for reading,writing, and music, and I finally have the time to pursue that.
The moment that I realized I needed to have this outlet was when my mother passed in 2025. All of the emotions had me turning to writing, again- replacing negative & destructive thoughts with positive ones. Writing songs has allowed me to put my thoughts into a specific format, rather than just reading or speaking positivity.
From day one, to the present, music has stuck with me as a positive outlet. It is an intentional mood regulation activity, reducing stress and anxiety. My hope is that by sharing songs with inspirational messages, listeners may be able to find the same comfort as I always have.
GH: How do you approach sharing and connecting music with your audience?
Fair Game: For me, this starts with a movement. I don’t consider a song finished when it’s recorded. I think of it as finished when a listener feels it in their body, whether that’s dancing, tapping a foot, going for a run, going through a rough time, or just to breathe a little easier.
That’s the motto of Fair Game: Music to move to and music that moves you.
When I share music, I’m really sharing an invitation, not just a track. With the referenced motto in mind, before I post a song, I ask myself: What moment is this for? A morning reset? A hard workout? A fun time laughing with friends? Something to lift you up and put some pep in your step?
To remind you to acknowledge feelings, feel them, then let them go, etc.
If I can name that moment honestly, people tend to find their own moment inside it.
Also, I like to keep my music as close to the human experience as I can. I like to share the story behind a song, the reason I wrote it, and the mistakes I made while writing it. People don’t just connect to a polished song, they connect to the story behind why it exists.
Lastly, when someone says “great song”, “this got me through my run”, “I can relate so much to this song”, “this is my hype song now”, or “this had me feeling all the feels”.
At the end of the day, I’m not trying to chase attention, I’m trying to build a little community where the music helps people move, physically and emotionally, and feel a little less alone while they’re doing it.
GH: How is your songwriting and production process structured?
Fair Game: My process is structured, but not stiff- it’s flexible. It typically starts with movement or feeling, not a lyric. I may be on a run, driving, feeling down, feeling happy, or reading and the idea appears. I write the idea down fast, via a voice memo, a post-it note, etc. I also note an initial rough beat, hook, or phrase. I know it’s not perfect yet, but it is my starting point.
Next, it’s time to build and shape the song. I try to find the core groove, build the chorus around the emotion, then let the verses fill in the story. I’m always asking: “Does this feel true? Does it move me or make me move? Would someone be able to relate to the song and want to play it again?
Then finally, having patience as I refine the song. I may re-sing lines until they feel right, tighten the production, and sit with it for a few days. If I’m still feeling it after stepping away from it for a few days, that’s when I know it’s ready to share.
I don’t write every song the same way, but 100% of the time I use the filter “Does it move me and will it move anyone else?”
GH: What motivates you to create music and bring awareness to different situations through your songs?
Fair Game: What motivates me is the moment when music actually does something for someone.
I’ve seen what music can do for me, and I want others to find the same release. It can move someone that has been stuck, give them language for something they’ve been feeling but couldn’t say, make a hard day feel a little lighter or make a good day feel even bigger. That’s powerful, and I don’t take it lightly.
I’m motivated by the mutual connection of being human and living with a wider renege of emotions and feelings. We all go through stress, grief, starting over, trying to take care of our health or someone else’s, trying to stay hopeful when the world feels heavy, etc.
I don’t want to just sing about those things from a distance, I want to write songs that meet people in those moments. Bringing awareness is not about preaching to people. For me, it’s about saying “you’re not alone in this”.
At the end of the day, If I can make music that helps people move, feel, heal, and keep going, that’s more than enough motivation to keep creating.
GH: Could you share some insights into your next projects? (Briefly mentioning the EP would be great)
Fair Game: I’m really excited about what’s coming next, because it feels like the most honest version of Fair Game yet.
I’ve been working on single tracks, as well as a seven song EP to be released on November 20, 2026. These singles and the EP lean even more into what I want to be known for, “music to move”. I want people to not just hear the music, but experience all of it.
Some high energy, some more reflective, but all of it built around movement, mood, and behavioral momentum.
I want to continue to bring people behind the scenes moments, stories behind songs, and more ways for people to share what a song meant to them. I’m being very intentional about the messages too.
A lot of what is coming next is about resilience, taking care of yourself, starting over, and finding joy again, even when life feels heavy. I want people to connect on that human level, not just an entertainment level.
What’s coming next is going to feel like a natural next step, just bigger, bolder, and more personal. I hope people will stay tuned, as Fair Game is just getting started
