In the vast, ever-shifting expanse of modern music, there are artists who simply entertain, and then there are those rare few who create a world for listeners to inhabit. Florida-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Steve Landa, known under the moniker The Held, does the latter. His latest single, “Extraordinary,” is a deeply intimate and emotionally charged song that invites listeners into the sacred space of love, faith, and human vulnerability. It’s a track that transcends the ordinary, urging its audience to contemplate life’s fragility and purpose.
At its core, The Held occupies a unique territory in the musical landscape—one that exists somewhere between serenity and chaos, peace and dystopia. To pinpoint the exact coordinates of this sonic realm requires more than a superficial listen. It demands a journey into the recesses of the human soul, traversing emotional terrain often marked by hope, loss, and the eternal search for meaning. Landa’s music is the road map, his guitar the vehicle, and “Extraordinary” serves as a profound checkpoint on this voyage.
“Extraordinary” is a track drenched in personal emotion, a father’s heart laid bare as Steve Landa reflects on watching his daughter leave for college. It is a universal story that captures a bittersweet moment familiar to many parents—a moment of pride intertwined with the ache of separation. The song’s poignancy lies in its simplicity, yet it holds a weight that feels monumental. Through carefully crafted lyrics and a melodic structure that ebbs and flows like the tides of time, Landa paints a picture of love that is at once intensely personal and universally relatable.
What sets “Extraordinary” apart from your average sentimental track, though, is the profound spiritual undercurrent that runs through it. Landa’s faith forms the foundation of his music, and in this song, that faith shines brightest. He doesn’t dwell on the sadness of parting but instead places his trust in a higher power. There’s a sense of serenity in the belief that his daughter’s journey is cradled in God’s hands, a divine reassurance that transforms the pain of separation into an act of surrender and love.
Landa’s faith, however, is not forcefully evangelical. It’s a natural, unspoken aspect of his music, weaving through the chords and melodies like a gentle thread. It is both quiet and unwavering, much like the presence of the divine itself. This makes “Extraordinary” not just a reflection of a personal moment but an anthem of hope for anyone navigating the tumultuous waters of change and uncertainty. It’s a spiritual balm wrapped in the delicate beauty of rock-infused soundscapes.
“Extraordinary” is not just a standalone single but part of ‘A Collection of Echoes’, a series in which Landa captures life’s fleeting moments and distills them into song. Each track in this collection is a story, a snapshot of raw human experience frozen in time and reinterpreted through sound. With every strum of his guitar, Landa immortalizes these emotional echoes, offering listeners the chance to see themselves within the music.
As an artist, Landa’s work draws heavily from a wide array of influences. His grounding in rock music provides the backbone for his guitar-driven sound, but it is the emotional vastness and atmospheric quality of artists like Kevin Morby and The War on Drugs that help shape the expansive, introspective world of The Held. One can hear echoes of Morby’s storytelling and The War on Drugs’ atmospheric soundscapes throughout “Extraordinary,” as well as the visual inspiration from filmmakers like Denis Villeneuve, whose work often explores deep, existential questions within stunning, cinematic worlds.
This is what The Held excels at—crafting music that does not simply play in the background, but rather unfolds like a story, taking you through a rich auditory landscape. Each song invites listeners to experience the world from a new perspective, to pause and reflect on life’s big questions, whether they are theological or existential. For those who crave music that stirs both the mind and the heart, Landa’s work is a goldmine of introspection.
For Steve Landa, music is not just a craft or a passion; it is a sacred gift, an innate part of his very being. He speaks of it as though it has always been with him, an unyielding presence that has colored every moment of his life since childhood. To him, songs are not something that must be created—they simply exist, swirling through his mind and waiting to be captured and shared. It is this unique relationship with music that gives The Held its ethereal quality. The songs feel as though they are drawn from a well deeper than the artist himself, connecting listeners to something greater, something transcendent.
This is particularly evident in “Extraordinary,” where Landa’s guitar lines seem to shimmer with a sense of divine purpose. The melodies, while grounded in rock, float above with a weightlessness that speaks to something beyond the here and now. It’s music that feels like it comes from a place of both peace and chaos—simultaneously grounded and yet striving for the heavens.
For fans of introspective music with emotional and spiritual depth, The Held provides an anchor in the often overwhelming storm of modern life. Steve Landa’s work, especially through tracks like “Extraordinary,” offers solace, understanding, and most importantly, a sense of belonging. His music isn’t meant to be simply heard; it’s meant to be felt.
“Extraordinary” is a reminder that even in the midst of life’s most challenging transitions, there is beauty to be found. Through his deeply personal narrative, Steve Landa reminds us that love and faith are pillars that can weather any storm. In a world that often feels like it teeters on the edge of dystopia, The Held stands as a beacon of hope—a musical refuge where listeners can find not just understanding, but healing. In The Held, you won’t just find music—you’ll find a space to breathe, reflect, and perhaps even heal.
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