At the center of every album is a musical thesis. For Local Natives and their album, “Hummingbird,” that thesis is multi-faceted and focused on asking yourself some profound questions. “Am I giving enough?” is the most important question asked on the album to me. Its importance weighs heavily on my mind because it is something that I constantly wrestle. In my relationships, my work, my volunteer time, my free time, I often wonder if I am giving of myself purely and freely. Am I really making a difference or am I adding another notch to the resume? The thought of it only being the latter terrifies me.

Next, this album asks us to think about what comes next. What lies beyond this moment in time? Are we placing our value and better days there or are we trying to find them in the present tense? I often think times seems to be slipping away and flashing by so rapidly because I am hoping for something that is weeks, months, and/or years away. If I focused on the moment I find myself standing in, would time slow down for me? I am sure the answers to these questions would provide endless amounts of debate. Still, I cannot help thinking about them. It is refreshing to stumble across a band wondering the same things.

Finally, this album asks, “Why wait?” Lives get stuck in the mud. Jobs stall. Relationships continue to deteriorate. We go through the motions. We find contentment but not happiness. What are we waiting for? Why are we not choosing to be happy at this moment? What are we so scared of? Why do we normalize being unhappy? Because we are scared. We are scared to make a change. What lies on the other side terrifies us. It shouldn’t but it does. Only when we realize the salvation that can be found in a radical change can we live a life free of regret.

Be good to each other,

-Nathan

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