Sugar Push
Derik Nelson
One of the most special honors about being a songwriter and music producer is capturing someone else's story through song. "Sugar Push" was written for the wedding of Sarah Joy and Jacob White as a surprise gift from the mother of the bride to the newlyweds. With the help of their close friends, I collected details and information about their
One of the most special honors about being a songwriter and music producer is capturing someone else's story through song. "Sugar Push" was written for the wedding of Sarah Joy and Jacob White as a surprise gift from the mother of the bride to the newlyweds. With the help of their close friends, I collected details and information about their story, how they met, and special places, activities, or things that were especially meaningful to them that I used to write this song.
A "sugar push" is a dance move specific to West Coast swing dancing, which is a huge part of the couple's relationship and was an important part of how they met and fell in love. It made for the perfect metaphor for the elastic "push/pull" and "give/take" that's needed in a marriage, as well as made for a beautiful reminder of the importance of "dancing through it all" no matter what life brings.
Notable things I included to make this song extra personal and meaningful:
• St. Augustine, where she went to college
• "The Palouse," a reference to WSU where he went to college
• "His girl," what he always calls her
• "Montgomery," where he proposed the first night she moved in
• "Why they call her Joy," a nod to her name
• "One-way flight to Mildenhall," a reference to Mildenhall, England where they are moving
• "Through good times and bad, through laughter and tears" a direct inclusion of their wedding vows
• Cover artwork incorporating lavender & navy blue, their wedding colors, as well as the ribbon from their invitation stationery
