Sweet Imperfections Hope to Help Heal with Their Single “Gently Not Judgingly” [Premiere]

There are times when life feels like a struggle and hasn’t that been the case for these last twelve months? Politically and socially speaking, it feels like someone has taken a knife and divided our world into two warring segments, in deep conflict over virtually every issue and belief you could possibly think of. Singer-songwriter Bri Schillings and her band Sweet Imperfections have recognized this fundamental clash of attitudes in their latest single “Gently Not Judgingly,” an epically emotional ballad that can’t help but move you.

Even if you aren’t on board with Schilling’s point of view, there’s no mistaking the gripping, passionate elements of the song that can’t help but reel you in as a listener. It’s a song that comes at a key time, when our differences have never been emphasized more and in many instances, these differences are being weaponized to harm us. The band is out to inspire sympathy and understanding, and lobby for a little more unity that can help carry us through these hard times we live in.

Explaining what inspired her and her bandmates to write “Gently Not Judgingly,” Schillings said, “We wrote this song during the Black Lives Matter movement over the summer with a desire to help make this country feel loved again and hopefully heal the deep divide between our people. ‘Gently Not Judgingly’ is calling out to us to, ‘take a walk in my shoes and you will see, you’re not that much different from me.’ We wanted to inspire people to understand and sympathize with our differences instead of condemning and judging people. We believed it’s time for real change as depicted in the bridge, ‘It’s time to let the past times pass through us, find a new way to make waves of real change.’”

An alluring figure, Schillings believes strongly in the value of music and its ability to soothe us through what she refers to as “soul vitamins.” Growing up, she developed an unbreakable bond with music that inspired her to feel freedom through the power of songwriting. Writing music became her outlet for some challenging times in her life, and it essentially provided the infrastructure to keep her head on straight and her life moving in the right direction. Music taught her how to live, how to love, and how to be the best version of herself. It all comes straight from a place of passion and honesty where there is no room for insincerity to creep in, which is never more evident than on “Gently Not Judgingly.”

Sometimes imperfections can be sweet, and disagreements can be appreciated. It just requires a little more effort and dignity from us all.

Bri Schillings

Artwork for “Gently Not Judgingly” by Sweet Imperfections