Hi, I'm AJ Odneal and you're watching Playlist 48 on Arizona PBS.

So, similar to the idea that I've always loved music, I've also always written little songs.

And I don't think songs have to be good to be enjoyed So I remember writing little goofy songs growing up, but it wasn't until middle school that I think I started writing songs for the purpose of processing what I was feeling, and now that I'm older, that's like really, really what songwriting has become for me.

My new EP is called No One Is a Constellation by Themself.

That song is all about community, it's about knowing that we're all pretty cool, and we're much cooler when we're with other people and supporting each other.

Which you know, everyone's a star, but you can't be a constellation by yourself.

(singing) We wear stars under our clothes so nobody else knows we've learned that there are those who try and steal our light though I do detest how we run from all the rest we conceal our very best and it makes me feel alone but when the day turns dark and we feel that hesitation we must remember, dear, no one is a constellation by themself.

So I might propose we teach them how to grow stars of their very own and to nurture them so bright cause when the day turns dark and we feel that hesitation we must remember, dear, no one is a constellation by themself.

Not by themself.

Because when the day turns dark, then we feel that hesitation we must remember, dear, no one is a constellation by themself.

We wear stars under our clothes so nobody else knows but we've learned that there are those who might really need the light so when the day turns dark and we feel that hesitation we must remember, dear, no one is a constellation by themself.

When the day turns dark and we feel that hesitation we must remember, dear, no one is a constellation by themself.

But there's other songs on there that are a little sadder.

One of them is called Didn't Know My Name, and that song was me processing my relationship with my grandmother.

She was incredibly racist.

Growing up, she hated me, she hated every part about me, and it wasn't until she had dementia that she cared about me, she was excited to see me, she told me she loved me for the first time, like as she was dying.

Like, she didn't have the ability to move her body or use her body, but that was the first time that she ever told me she loved me, and I believed her.

And I wrote a song about it because I was trying to figure out this balance of joy in finally experiencing love from someone who's supposed to love you, pain from knowing that this is what it took it took, her forgetting everything that I am in order for her to like me at all, let alone love me, and anger that this wasn't something I was able to have my entire childhood.

And so I wrote a song just to figure that out in my own heart, and in in my head, to come to peace with it.

And I think that that's kind of where my songs went for this EP, is just coming to peace.

(singing) I left you a gift in the moon's largest crater figured up there you could save it for later you need a flashlight and a little bit of luck I hear rockets run just under two billion bucks I'm sorry to tell you this way I'll be out of your hair by the end of the day it's better this way.

I called you on Tuesday to give you my best cause I'm leaving here soon and I'm heading out west and if I'm stopping I do not know where do you know of a place you might treat me fair I'm sorry to tell you this way I'll be out of your hair by the end of the day it's better this way.

I could meet you again in a year and one day I mean, time travel is kind of funny that way and if in the future, you're up to the task well, baby I beg you, don't take me back.

You love me well and you love me true and you didn't love me the way that I loved you you love me real and you love me right and I love you so much, I'll be gone tonight You love me well and you love me true and you didn't love me the way that I loved you you love me real and you love me right and I love you so much, I'll be gone tonight You love me well and you love me true and you didn't love me the way that I loved you you love me real and you love me right and I love you so much, I'll be gone tonight it's better all right I'm sorry to tell you this way I'll be out of your hair by the end of the day it's better this way