For singer-songwriter Zane Vickery, nothing remains hidden from view—no matter how deep the wound. For Vickery, the more he can convey the reality of his own experiences and emotions (including the darker shades involving pain, sorrow, and frustration), the greater the possibility of reaching someone in a similar place.

In this episode, Vickery talks about his views on vulnerability in songwriting and how they played into his song, “Whatever Light We Have.”

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For singer-songwriter Carolyn Arends, the one song she says was the most difficult to write and release was written as her community supported her as she struggled to grieve the loss of her mother. In her darkest moment, the mentors and those around her helped her find the right words for a way forward.

On this episode of The Deepest Cut, Carolyn talks about the origins of her song “To Cry For You.”

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Sho Baraka takes us inside "Words, 2006" and tells us what its release has meant for him and so many others who feel seen by its subject matter. In addition, Sho also shares about the juvenile state of hip-hop and what it means to pursue eldership within it.

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