There are some songs that begin with a melody, some that begin with a lyric, and others that begin with an idea that simply refuses to leave you alone. “Universe Dreams” began with an idea that has become increasingly important to me: the belief that every human life has meaning and purpose.

The central inspiration for the song comes from Ephesians 2:10, which tells us that we are God’s workmanship, created with purpose. I have always found that idea extraordinary. To think of yourself as a poem written by God may sound audacious, but that is essentially what Paul is describing. Our lives are not random or insignificant. We are known, loved and created for something.

As humans, we tend to place enormous value on the people who are beautiful, gifted, successful or celebrated. We look at the people who seem to have everything together and sometimes conclude that they are somehow more valuable than we are.

I wanted “Universe Dreams” to challenge that idea.

Every person has a unique story. Every person has a life that matters. Our worth isn’t determined by how we compare ourselves with somebody else, by our achievements, or by how successful we appear to be from the outside.

My own understanding of this became much deeper through some difficult years in my life. I experienced severe depression, and during those wilderness years my Christian faith became much more personal. I began to experience God not simply as an idea or a set of beliefs, but as a presence and a love that changed the way I saw myself and other people.

I have worked as a cardiologist for more than 40 years, so I have spent much of my life thinking about the physical heart. But I’ve always been fascinated by the connection between the physical and emotional aspects of who we are. Music has given me another way to explore that territory.

I want my songs to reach people who are suffering or experiencing discomfort and give them something that might bring comfort, solace and hope. I don’t pretend that music can solve every problem, but sometimes a song can remind us of something we have temporarily forgotten.

“Universe Dreams” was produced by the remarkable guitarist Carl Verheyen and recorded at Stagg Street Studios in Los Angeles. I have always loved the harmonically rich pop and rock of the 1970s and 1980s, and I wanted this song to reflect that influence while still sounding like my own music.

The arrangement contains some of the musical elements I love most: unusual chord sequences, rich vocal harmonies, memorable hooks and unexpected harmonic movement. I wanted the music to feel expansive because the idea behind the song is expansive.

One of my favourite moments comes in the chorus, where there is a deliberately large vocal leap on the words “a star is born.” I wanted that moment to feel almost like an awakening, as though something suddenly opens up in front of you.

Ultimately, “Universe Dreams” is about hope. It is about remembering that your life has value even when you don’t feel valuable. It is about recognising that suffering doesn’t erase purpose, and that difficult seasons don’t have to be the final chapter of our story.

I hope people can hear the song and find their own meaning in it. For some, it may speak directly to their faith. For others, perhaps it will simply be a reminder that they matter and that their story is still being written.

For me, that is what music has become in this second act of my life.

Artist: Mark T. Speakman

Listen to “Universe Dreams”: https://open.spotify.com/track/5q7LtchovYdzM4OWgmvDqL

Artist: Mark T. Speakman
Website: https://www.marktspeakmanmusician.com/