I wrote "By My Side" about a month before I released my very first record. I was in the studio when I got the idea, and it was really tough to decide whether it would make the record or not. In the end, we didn't have the time to cut it and put it in the mix before the release date, so I settled for 'Track #1" on my second album.

I was dating someone who didn't have the most self-confidence, but had every reason to be happy with herself. She was smart, funny, and kind, but like most other teenage girls, felt a ton of the pressure that society put on her to "look beautiful." I began writing the song with the intent of letting her know how important (and beautiful) she was to me. The first line says, "When I see you standing in the shadows, I wonder why you hide your pretty face away." I feel like every human should walk around like they are meant to be right there. You don't have to be a certain way or look a certain way for any other person. You just need to be happy with yourself. Everyone has their struggles and feels different pressures from their surroundings, so I basically wanted to say, "you've been there to hold me up, and I'll be here to do the same."

The song really evolved into something so much bigger for me than just a relationship song, though. The chorus sort of chants "I don't know if I'd be standing without you by my side." That applied to so many people in my life, and I realized I rarely told half of those people how important they were to me. I've been so lucky to be surrounded by so many supportive, loving people in my life (you are probably one of them!) and I wanted all those people to know I would always be equally as supportive as them.

The final line of the chorus says "I have faith in my own stride, and I can hold my own with my head held high when you're standing by my side." That line meant everything to me, and really represented how I felt. When people praise an artist for their songs, it's often hard to see how many people actually affected the writer enough for them to write the song. I had so many people in my life who helped to shape me, both as a human being and as a songwriter. What I wanted that line to portray was, we can only really "hold our own" because of the amazing people who help us up on our own to feet.

"By My Side" started off as kind of a lovey song for a girl, and turned into my proclamation of love and support for all my friends and family. I hope that you listen to the song and have your own unique interpretation of it while feeling appreciated and loved!