by Jake Aurigema
This past weekend marked the one-year anniversary of the release of Survival Songs, a powerhouse of a record created by Derek Webb that has tackled the tough conversations some of us are too afraid to have. This time last year wasn’t just another album drop for Derek Webb, it was an urgent, emotional love letter to the LGBTQ+ community, signaling his sympathy for the struggles that queer youth face everyday. By walking through this record with fearless lyrics of affirmation and identity, Derek Webb made clear that his goal was to provide a safe space for queer kids navigating a world in which they may not feel seen.
Survival Songs by Derek Webb
Survival Songs served as a masterclass in being human, unlearning the ways we were taught and becoming an ally to our brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors. This piece acknowledges the deep cut scars of the past while offering a hopeful path towards healing and love. Whether you’re someone who seeks to better understand queer youth or someone who had braved this storm themselves, the songs in this project act as a mirror. It reminds us all that the ultimate form of resistance against exclusion is love and relationship. Love knows no bounds, it holds no true form or binary.
For queer youth, Survival Songs is exactly what the title promises: a blueprint for survival. Tracks like “Queer Kid” and “Sola Translove Part 2 (Words of Affirmation)” offer unconditional belonging to queer people. They provide a safety net to queer youth, showing they they are seen, cherished and not alone.
It has been a full year of this masterpiece, and it still hits the same as the day it was released. Derek Webb’s Survival Songs stands as a testament to the fact that music still has the power to save lives and spread love.
This record was inspired by his child, Ash, who creates bold, expressive artwork to pair Derek’s tracks with an emotional visual! Check out “Survival Songs: The Art Project” and see more on how art can change the world.