It’s a Fight Uphill

The Whiskey Feathers’ “Sold Separately” is a song about grit. It’s a manifesto for (and a manifestation of) the thick-skinned hope needed to create – and keep on creating – good things. Brittain Duckworth's distinctive, sandpaper vocals bring so much passion and energy to the song that one almost, almost, misses the perfectly layered harmony lines that join on the second phrase, just before the rest of the band comes in. The whole performance is tight, and the band’s balanced musicality enlivens the storytelling.
The song conveys a depth of personal meaning as the band’s excellent vocalists cry out on the hook, “the dream is free, but the hustle[’s] sold separately.” Though Duckworth makes it clear that the hustle - challenging the status quo, challenging oneself - has a cost, "Sold Separately" doesn't tell us what that cost is, for the band or the listener.  But make no mistake, it's "the struggle that opens up those doors."

There’s a whole category of songs out there that grammarians among us might call ‘songs in the imperative mood,’ while theatrical types would consider them ‘songs that break the fourth wall.’  Religiously experienced and/or exhausted lovers of songwriting might even use the word ‘preachy,’ especially if the song’s call to action is poorly executed.  

That’s where “Sold Separately” is special. While the song forcefully advances the assertion that dreams aren’t enough on their own and the real value comes from the work invested in making the dream a reality, it does so without shame or shouting. Instead the band vulnerably shares with us their personal commitment. And when that message resonates, “Sold Separately” serves as heartfelt encouragement and a humble reminder.