(And Why One More Time Signed Up for The Worst Song Ever)
There’s something strangely cozy about staying in your musical comfort zone. You know the tunes, you know the feel, and you know exactly how the set will land. It’s safe. It’s predictable. And after a while… it can get a little stale.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how growth hardly ever happens when everything feels easy—especially in music. Whether you’re playing Irish trad, folk, jazz, whatever, pushing yourself into weird, uncomfortable, “oh-god-what-am-I-doing?” territory is usually where the good stuff starts. That’s where you find new sounds, new skills, and sometimes new confidence.
Which brings me to my band, One More Time, and our brilliant/terrifying decision to sign up for The Worst Song Ever contest at the Barre Opera House this Saturday on November 22 .
Yes. The Worst Song Ever.
If there’s one thing Irish trad musicians aren’t known for, it’s writing intentionally bad songs. Ornamentation? Sure. Driving rhythms? Absolutely. Lyrical nonsense on purpose? Not so much. But when we heard about the contest, something in us said, “Why not?” It felt like the perfect chance to break our patterns, shake off any musical stiffness, and just play without the pressure of being “good.”
Singing a bad song on purpose is surprisingly hard. Like… way harder than it should be. But the process made us listen differently, create differently, and laugh a whole lot more than usual. It reminded us that music isn’t only about polish—it’s about play. And sometimes, taking yourself a little less seriously brings you right back to why you love playing in the first place.
Getting on that stage with a song that’s supposed to be terrible? That’s vulnerability. That’s growth. And honestly, it’s been one of the most fun ways we’ve stepped outside our comfort zone as a band.
So here’s to musical risks, failed experiments, questionable lyrics, and trying things that make you slightly uncomfortable but wildly alive. If you’re feeling stuck, I highly recommend signing up for something ridiculous. Turns out, it’s a pretty great way to get better.
If you’d like to catch us this Saturday, tickets are still available for the Worst Song Ever.
When: Saturday, November 22 at 7pm
Where: The Barre Opera House
Cost: $10 (click here to buy tickets)
See you there!
Session Obsession 