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I wish that I could say that I was in a “better place” when I found out the news. It would make for a far more polished and respectable story. But I think back to that night: praying on the floor at 2am as Tricia went to the bathroom to take the pregnancy test I’d just purchased from Walgreens. I was scared. Scared to start working on new music. Scared of trying again and failing. Scared of the process of staring at myself through a page and seeing someone that I wasn’t proud of. Someone that I didn’t like. Someone that wasn’t ready to be a dad.
I’ve always had some make-believe image in my head of who I would be as a father. I held on to clear expectations of where I wanted be in my career, my age, my level of self-care, and my maturity. I basically assumed that I’d have it all together. But in actuality the hypothetical “dad” version of me looked completely different than the man whose heart was beating out of his chest on the carpet, praying to a god or spirit I hadn’t talked to in months. When Tricia walked out of the bathroom, I knew. And I knew I had to change.
5 months later we were recording in a remote cabin away from the density that is Seattle. I was finally having fun in the studio for the first time in years. Songs were getting made, finally. I was going back to the city once a week to attend a birthing class with Tricia. When I got back to the cabin the next day, Ryan had made a new beat that would eventually become the song you’re listening to. Half of it is advice about growing up. The other half is trying to figure out how to grow up myself.
When you try to escape yourself, life has an interesting way of creating situations that force you to come back. To look at who you are. This is why “Growing up” felt like the right song to re-emerge with. It’s where I’ve been the last year, through all the ups and downs. We didn’t want to do a big campaign or anything over the top with this. We just wanted to put out good music, directly to the people that have been here since the beginning. Thank you for your patience. Hope you enjoy.
And if you’re wondering…
Our daughter, Sloane Ava Simone Haggerty was born 2 months ago on May 29th. There is nothing like the joy and happiness that comes from bringing a baby into this universe. She has filled my heart in ways that I never knew were possible. She is the love of my life. This song is for her.
– Ben
Performed by Macklemore
Produced by Ryan Lewis
Featuring Ed Sheeran
Written by: B. Haggerty; R. Lewis; E. Sheeran; J. Karp; O. Arunga; J. Rawlings
Bass by Joshua “Budo” Karp
Piano by Joshua Rawlings and Joshua “Budo” Karp
Guitar by Ryan Lewis and Joshua “Budo” Karp
Trumpet by Owuor Arunga
Trombone by Greg Kramer
Vibraphone by Susan Pascal
Group Vocals by Deshe’ Brooks, Tanisha Brooks, Sherri Charleston, Josephine Howell, Dana Jackson, Karma Johnson, Russell Leonce, Shaunyce Omar, Sally Reavis, Austin Rickel, Francisca Shaw, Maelu Strange and Liah Walker
Macklemore Publishing (BMI)
Ryan Lewis Publishing (BMI)
Gutterfunk (ASCAP)
Arunga Music (BMI)
Joshua Rawlings (ASCAP)
Tyler W. Andrews (ASCAP)
Ed Sheeran Limited and Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK)
Ed Sheeran appears courtesy of Asylum Records UK Ltd
© 2015 Macklemore, LLC. All rights reserved.
