Showcasing her tender lyricism and shimmering vocals, Nashville singer-songwriter Chelsea Burns has returned with her brand new single, “Still Got Time,” her first in over a year.
Written by Burns and produced by Dan Swank, “Still Got Time” stays true to her artistry with its ambient choir-like instrumentation and an inspirational melody which takes its time delivering its lyrics, providing tactful pauses allowing the listener to take in her words. Her voice rings clear as she sings the lyrics, “You’ll find the best things are gone too soon / You’ll find the beauty in leaving, too.”
Often a recurring theme in Burns’s music, the song speaks of making the best out of painful situations, wielding a hopeful tone towards the fear of change, the passing of time, and regret. The song begins gently, eventually building up to a powerful and more vocally demanding final rendition of the chorus: “You’ve got the rest of your life / You’ve still got time / You’ve got the rest of your life / To change your mind.”
Growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, Burns discovered her relentless passion for music through high school choir and a love for piano and poetry. Writing lyrics since age fifteen, she has had plenty of time to develop her craft and message, taking inspiration for her lyrical work from artists such as Ingrid Michaelson and John Mayer among many others.
In 2016, Burns followed her heart to Nashville, immersing herself into the thick of the music scene. The influences of her past have shone through her previous work, including “In Another Life,” released in 2020 and “Blue” from 2021, songs characterized by their melancholy lyrics and cinematic melodies featuring piano at their centers.
In 2022, she released her first music video for her single “I Miss Being Me,” featuring an interpretive dance performed by Kylie Koeppen, set to Burns’s mournful lyrics; both visually and musically, Burns sets a precedent of finding empowerment in overwhelming situations, mixing lyrics of despair and melodies that bring joy.
“’Still Got Time’ is a song I wrote as a note to myself about my anxiety about the future,” Burns says. “It’s about the anxiety of being a woman who’s turned 30 in the music industry, an adult who doesn’t completely know what they’re doing, and just the human experience of being scared that my choices won’t result in happiness or success. It’s a little reminder that you’ve still got time.”
“Still Got Time” offers a hopeful look to the future, and there’s no better time to do so than getting started in a new year.
Featured photo by Sammy Hearn
