The Truth Behind the Song #12 – Malin Pettersen’s “Pause”

Welcome to our ‘The Truth Behind the Song’ feature. For this feature, we’ve asked a number of our favourite artists to give us in-depth piece about a song that has a special place in their heart. Today we feature the wonderful Malin Pettersen, who gives us an insight into the truth behind ‘Pause’.

What would you want to remember if someday half your life was slipping  away from your memory? Are older people wiser than young people? How can we free ourselves from society’s norms and automation?

All of these questions, and more, were swirling around in my head for the longest time. After the release of my first solo album last year, I found myself broke, extremely tired, and quite down, and I started questioning if this – trying to make a living as a musician and songwriter – is really how I want to live. If it eats me up is it really worth it just for those moments when you get to play your music or when you meet someone you connect with at a show?

I looked around me at my family, my home, my friends and I thought:
You’ll probably always be asking questions, have ups and downs, wonder how to get through this life the best possible way. But if you decide that this is where you’re supposed to be for now – no matter the ups and downs, then it doesn’t really matter, then you don’t have to question that too – if you are where you’re supposed to be. All of this got me thinking about how incredibly short our time here on earth is and how bound we are of what society tells us is the right way to live. There is no right way – you’ve got to find it. And questioning the world, the rules, your beliefs and truths can take you wonderful places you would never go if you weren’t searching. “Pause” is full of wonder and without any answers – it’s written as my mind flows and to hopefully get us all thinking when we hear it.