the story behind the song:

The Day Your Light Went Out

Christiana’s beloved Grandma (Gramsies) Helena was her and her sisters’ best friend. Upon her death in March of 2024, all three sisters were launched into deep grief.

After returning from her trip to say goodbye one last time, Christiana was unable to speak for almost 24 hours and knew she needed to songwrite to work through her pain. That Monday afternoon, a thunderstorm rolled through her Southern California studio and she wrote this song as a response from her heart on the juxtaposition of knowing exactly where her Grandma was in heaven, but in also embracing the pain in the midst of the loss.

Christiana’s Grandma championed her piano and music lessons since the age of 6, and she took her to her first musical - The Phantom of the Opera - at age 7. Even as a young child, she was deeply moved by the musical and was in awe of the deep passion that can be felt by telling a story through song, movement and music. Every time she would visit, Grandma Helena would ask her to sing and play songs on the piano while she sat and reveled in the music. Grams would always passionately proclaim, “I LOVE this song!!!!” while being moved to tears with any song being played that had a classical element. Some of their fondest memories with her included music.

Music was always a major connector in Christiana and her sisters’ lives with their beloved Grandma. Her hope is that this song will be a resource and a heart song to anyone experiencing deep grief in the mourning of a loved one.