The Songbird
Music Video
The music video for To Live Again is available on December 18!
If you'd like to view the video, head over to my blog post!
Our 3-Song EP, “Out of Darkness & Finding the Light” is currently in production and will be
released very soon, sometime in mid-to-late December.
This EP has truly been a spiritual journey of epic proportions and means everything to me to be able to share this with you. Details about how the songs came to be can be found on my blog post, “A Sneak Peek into our upcoming 3-Song EP, “Out of Darkness & Finding the Light".
Hugs and Love, Linda
You might wonder why this Songbird Page exists.
Simply put, it's here to connect. If my journey from darkness to light, or if my music, resonates with you – if it brings you peace or reminds you that you're not alone – then sharing my story has purpose. My hope is that my experiences can guide you towards finding your own peace, contentment, and joy.
Following is my tale of the catalyst that pushed me to become a songwriter.
Life has ebbs and flows and it behooves us to ride those waves to the best of our ability. The key is to keep moving forward, embracing life’s challenges with courage, resilience, determination, and strength. However, not all of life’s challenges are created equal.
November 17, 2021, while vacationing in Italy, I get a call telling me that my son had been killed. My world as I knew it stopped, never to be the same again…
Losing a child regardless of age is not the natural order of things and trying to make sense of this tragedy could not be done using rational thought or logic. When the heart is shattered, one must find a way to move through the grief and heartbreak.
I love music and have always listened in the house or car or when I just need to unwind. I found myself turning to songs like “Drowning” by Chris Young or Craig Morgan’s "The Father, My Son, and The Holy Ghost", and a host of others that allowed me to listen, sing, move, and grieve.
At some point, I began to feel a gentle nudge to write, specifically lyrics for a song; then a second song, and then a third.
The first song, Finding 2nd Gear, was released to platforms worldwide at the beginning of 2025.
I designed the CD Cover and wrote the inspiration for the song as you can see below.
Listen to the snippet on Spotify - full song is streaming on all major platforms worldwide!
From a post on Facebook to my Soul Family....
Hello Soul Family,
My family and I suffered a devastating loss when my son, Dustin Lee Laun's life was cut short one fateful night (November 17, 2021) and the resulting lawsuit(s), extensions, and attempt to bring accountability to those who knowingly harmed him and his global/domestic business has still not been settled. However, through the loss of my youngest, and only son, I needed to find a way through my grief without letting it affect my mental/emotional wellbeing and love of life. I began with Deborah King and amazing healings in April 2022.
Music has always been my go-to whether singing or listening and Spirit knew it would be the only way in which to provide balm to my shattered soul. So I began writing a series of three songs to honor my son, Dusty. One song, To Live Again was directly adapted from a piece that I wrote 3 days after his death, and only recently posted the piece Love & Death Entwined to the Medium site, one which Dusty wrote and posted to.
The second song: Finding 2nd Gear was adapted from a piece that Dusty wrote for Medium in 2016.
The third song: Love Essentials encompasses the essence of him as a human being who loved people and life with many of his famous quotes that I want to live on as his legacy.
I have been collaborating with a beautiful and heart-centered musician, Lois Mahalia.
On all three songs, Lois is singing and composing; I am the lyricist/songwriter.
We decided that we will launch each song individually until all 3 are out then we will remaster them and they will be together in a mini album. Because of Dusty's impact in the corporate / global world we decided that Finding 2nd Gear will initially launch on Monday, January 13, 2025- NY time and world-wide on all streaming platforms. Lois and I will then determine launch dates for To Live Again and Love Essentials early in 2025.
My oldest daughter, Misti, will be doing mini pre-drops in 60-second flat videos @ her TikTok: @Mrs.T Duality52 beginning this week and then the formal drop coinciding with the launch on the 13th.
My hope has and always will be the same: 1) Leave a beautiful legacy that hits the inner heart and essence of Dusty. 2) Heal any heart who has suffered a loss or feels healing from the music and lyrics Lois and I will be sharing with the world.
I wanted the Soul Family to be an integral part in sharing this launch in honor of my son, so we can turn a tragedy and immeasurable loss into a blessing focused on healing first self (ME), then each of you, and hopefully others throughout the world through music.
Hugs and Love,
Linda
Previously I shared the events that led to my path shifting and how my passion for music evolved into songwriting as a cathartic avenue to assuage grief and to honor the legacy of my son.
I am honored to introduce you to my co-collaborator and dear friend, Lois Mahalia, who is an amazing artist with a passion and heart that makes her the beautiful soul that she is. Lois Mahalia's website.
I shared the first song with you, Finding 2nd Gear above. Lois and I are in production mode preparing for the launch of a 3-Song EP in early June 2025. Finding 2nd Gear will be remastered on the new EP and we will add the two remaining songs:
Love Essentials - encompasses the essence of my son as a human being who loved people and life with many of his famous quotes that I want to live on as his legacy.
To Live Again - the final song of the EP was directly adapted from a piece that I wrote 3 days after my son’s death. I recently posted the piece entitled Love & Death Entwined to the Medium platform.
COLLABORATION IN PROGRESS !
Here is a glimpse of Lois and I hard at work in one of our many and on-going collaboration sessions. This one is from March 27, 2025.
Stay tuned! There is more to come.