Thursday night we witnessed a wonderful performance by a very talented young woman at the annual ChildUSA Gala.
McKenna Gray composed and performed her latest song, “The Aftermath”:
These are the lyrics:
THE AFTERMATH
VERSE 1
We don’t get to choose where we grow up
Or who stays in our lives when we are young.
What happens behind closed doors is something we could never stop.
Don’t believe the lies they told you.
It was never your fault.
CHORUS:
This isn’t how it was meant to go.
It’s so easy to lose who we are in the undertow. But we’re not just some rubble left from
constant blasts. we’re the foundation that remains uncracked and we’ll build ourselves in the
aftermath.
VERSE 2:
It’s ok to ask a thousand why’s. It’s ok to hear nothing in reply. Looking for answers often brings
more questions than finds. What matters is the life we build on the other side.
CHORUS:
This isn’t how it was meant to go.
It’s so easy to loose who we are in the undertow. But we’re not just some rubble left from
constant blasts. we’re the foundation that remains uncracked and we’ll build ourselves in the
aftermath.
BRIDGE:
Don’t minimize yourself because you’re starting again. Don’t measure your worth by the state
your life is in. The key to recovery is to take it slow.
Don’t rush this. Enjoy your freedom. There’s more to come. So watch your life grow.
2nd CHORUS:
This isn’t how you thought it would go,
But don’t you know that you’re stronger than any undertow? And up from the rubble, you can
take your future back. You’re the foundation that remains uncracked and you’ll rise above the
aftermath.
FINAL CHORUS:
This isn’t how you thought it would go,
I know it’s easy to loose who you are in the undertow. But up from the rubble, you can take your
future back. You’re the foundation that remains uncracked and you’ll rise above the aftermath.
A bit about McKenna. She was born in a Bible-based cult and got out with her family when she was sixteen. She described it this way:
“It was strange because I had all of this freedom for the first time but my life was also in shambles. I was starting over in this new world that I’d never been a part of which was terrifying, but also gave me a chance to actually live and not just survive. I started writing music to cope with the fallout and my dad had done music producing for some hobby projects. So, we’ve been figuring out the whole recording side together. It’s been a great bonding experience because we weren’t very close in the group, due to the control placed on family dynamics and peoples’ personalities. I
released my first EP, “Static” in 2019 and two singles since then. My music is about accepting wherever you are in the recovery process. And right now, I’m right in the middle of it. I don’t
have answers but I’ve learned I don’t need them. A lot of my lyrics deal with trauma and trying to face it straight on instead of turning to unhealthy coping methods. I hope my music can help
people see it’s ok to feel lost and it’s ok to start over. Starting over can be an exciting second chance despite the pain that caused it.”
I first became aware of McKenna when she put up this tweet:
I listened to her music and was very impressed. I then asked her if she would be willing to help Child USA and she jumped in with both feet. Follow/like her on twitter and YouTube.
This is the EP she links to:
McKenna is fabulous – Thank you, Mike, for introducing us to her!
She has a marvelous voice. The words are profound. The music is catchy but romantic and jazz like. She has a hit wth a song that has real meaning. I hope her and her father are youtube successful followed up by international success. She touches so many in all age groups that have been scammed. Her father did a wonderful job producing a song that is spiritual without being hokey like some. Well done ❤️🙏💪❤️
Wow! What a voice and song!
Can you say which cult she was in? Just curious.
It’s always good to learn of new talent shining a light on cults and other similar criminal organizations.
I was just now reading about an international group of bullies, thugs and terroritsts called “The Black Axe” which targets adult ladies and dupes them into sending their entire life savings – often as much as a million dollars. The aftermath of these scams is so devastating that it leads some of these ladies to suicide.
I apologize this is O/T insofar as there is nothing specifically about McKenna Gray in this link. But it explains about “Romance Scams” and other related groups of scammers and how these international groups terrorize women and dupe them into losing their life savings. What is needed to discourage these criminals? Tougher penalties don’t seem to be enough. I will post a link to a very interesting TV News report that explains how these gangs work and why they get away with this.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1819628
The above link is to a 4 or 5 part series. Each part is only ten minutes. So the total is only 40 minutes or so. I’m sorry I cannot find a link to the entire series. This is one of the most interesting news items related to cults I’ve ever seen and you should be able to find all the parts by searching for: “CTV The Invisible Man”
I hope you will find this as interesting as I did.
Beautiful and haunting song. Lovely girl. It’s incredible that she and her family were able to escape the cult they were in because of you and Leah. Nicely done. You guys rock.
Beautiful. Thank you Mike for introducing us to this powerful young artist.
Amazing. A beautiful voice and interpreter. I have relatives and friends who play or are musicians. What I learned is that if you would listen to a song or music again and again without ever getting tired then it is special. Well, “Aftermath” really is. Congratulations McKenna Gray.
Awesome. This is how a community a built, and one which doesn’t have corrupt social values as those found in cults.
An extremely beautiful and talented young woman.May she keep on writing and performing her music so as to help others in the same situation she once was.
Beautiful voice indeed. Wish her the best.
McKenna Gray has a wonderful voice and writes great music. I worship her from afar. I love the ‘don’t be culty’ tee shirt.
Great Lady. Beautiful songs. Interesting story. She brought me to tears with the Aftermath song after having been out thirty two years.
I was nothing but a tough guy and that is how I grew up.