Marsha Swansonhas has just released “Waltz for Life”. It’s the final single from her album “Near Life Experience,” which actually turned two years old back on January 19th. The fact that she saved this track for last feels intentional in a way that makes you appreciate the whole album differently.

Here’s what gets me: Marsha wrote this when she was only 14. Fourteen. And she circled back to it later, recognizing it as the perfect way to open her album. There’s something beautiful about that kind of creative intuition, using your younger self’s work to set the tone for everything that follows.

The song itself is built around gorgeous strings that feel like they’re pulling you into a dance. For me, it’s hopeful without being cheesy, tender without getting too heavy. While the rest of “Near Life Experience” digs into heavier themes like death and memory. This waltz is pure celebration of just being alive and all the possibilities that come with that.

What Marsha said about releasing the album’s first track last really stuck with me. She wanted to create this full circle moment, completing the cycle of life and death that runs through the whole record. It’s only 1 minute and 11 seconds, but it doesn’t feel incomplete or like just an intro anymore. It stands on its own.

Actually, other people are noticing that too. The song is currently a semifinalist in the classical category of the international U.K. Songwriting Contest and heading to the finals, which is pretty incredible for what was originally meant as just an album opener.

Marsha’s been working with Iranian animator Sam Chegini on a video that’s supposed to bring together all the different animation techniques they’ve used in their previous collaborations. Unfortunately, that’s on pause right now because of communication issues with Iran, but I’m really hoping we get to see it eventually. Their past videos together have been stunning.

Listen here.