With only a few days remaining until Vertigo arrives, I’ve been reflecting on the songs, ideas, and creative decisions that shaped the album.
When people listen to a record, they hear the finished product.
What they don’t always hear are the little moments that made me smile while writing, recording, or revisiting these songs.
So today, I thought I’d share some of my favorite moments from Vertigo and why they mean so much to me.
❤️ The Chorus of “Obsession”
One of my favorite moments on the entire album is also one of its simplest.
The spelling of the word:
O-B-S-E-S-S-I-O-N
There’s something undeniably catchy about it.
It’s playful.
It’s memorable.
And once it gets stuck in your head, good luck getting it back out.
For me, it captures the fun side of songwriting, where a simple idea can become a genuine earworm.
❄️ Revisiting Songs Written Nearly 45 Years Ago
Several songs on Vertigo have roots that stretch back much farther than people might realize.
Songs like:
- Avalanche
- Obsession
- Turn of Events
- Frantic Heart
- Calculated Risk
all began life decades ago in one form or another.
Revisiting them in 2026 wasn’t about recreating the past.
It was about looking at those ideas through the lens of experience, growth, and perspective.
The meanings evolved because I evolved.
That may be one of the most rewarding aspects of this entire project.
🕰️ The Musical Time Machine of “1979”
One thing I particularly love about 1979 is the way it references classic songs from that year.
Mentions of tracks by artists like Blondie, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Michael Jackson, and Chic don’t just create nostalgia.
They become part of the storytelling.
Music has an incredible ability to transport us back to specific moments in our lives.
I wanted listeners to feel that.
👁️ The Vulnerability of “Seen”
Seen may be one of the most personal songs on the album.
What starts as disappointment directed toward someone else slowly reveals itself as a conversation with oneself.
Questions about unrealized potential.
Self-doubt.
Feeling invisible.
Trying to understand where things went wrong.
It’s uncomfortable at times.
And because of that, it feels honest.
✨ The Club Called “Vertigo”
A small detail that always makes me smile appears in Euphoria.
The song begins with two strangers meeting at a club called Vertigo.
That wasn’t an accident.
Long before the album was finished, the title Vertigo had already become part of the world these songs inhabited.
I love the idea that the title track isn’t the only place where Vertigo exists.
🎲 Just How Many Gambling References Fit Into One Song?
When I was writing Calculated Risk, a challenge emerged.
How many gambling metaphors could I fit into a song about love?
Apparently…a lot.
Bets.
Odds.
Parlays.
Roulette wheels.
Loaded dice.
Double down.
The funny thing is that none of it was really about gambling.
It was always about vulnerability and the risks we take when we open our hearts to someone else.
🌌 The Meaning Behind “Miles Away”
One of my favorite ideas on the album comes from Miles Away.
The title suggests distance.
The song does the opposite.
It’s about being surrounded by a world full of people yet feeling closest to the one person who truly understands you.
There’s something beautiful about that contradiction.
😉 The Sharp Edge of “The Wink”
The Wink stands apart from nearly every other song on the album.
While many of the tracks explore relationships and personal growth, this one asks questions about narrative, perception, media, technology, and the stories we’re encouraged to believe.
It may be the most biting song on the record.
And definitely the most sarcastic.
Which probably explains why I had so much fun writing it.
🌪️ The Inspiration Behind “Vertigo”
The title track exists because I became fascinated with the actual sensation of vertigo.
The spinning.
The disorientation.
The feeling of losing your footing.
As the song developed, that physical condition became a metaphor for what happens when love changes your perspective so completely that the world starts looking different.
That idea eventually became the foundation for the entire album.
🌈 A Trip Back to Oz
Then there’s the ending.
No Place Like This closes the album with intentional nods to The Wizard of Oz.
The storm.
The shift from black-and-white to color.
The search for home.
The realization that what you were looking for may have been there all along.
It felt like the perfect way to conclude an album built around perspective, uncertainty, and discovering where you belong.
Looking Back
When I started working on Vertigo, I didn’t fully understand where it would end up.
Looking back now, I see an album filled with old ideas made new, unexpected connections, personal reflections, risks, memories, questions, and a few surprises along the way.
Most importantly, I see a journey.
And in just a few days, that journey becomes yours.
Vertigo arrives October 30.
Pull Quote
“The meanings evolved because I evolved.”
Hey there — I’m Jon. This is Moteventure, my corner of the internet where music, movies, lists, and life all collide. Glad you’re here.