The Song That Changed Everything

My First Week in California & The Song That Changed Everything

By Jamall Anthony

When I first moved to California, I came with nothing but a suitcase, a catalog of songs, and a dream bigger than any skyline I'd ever seen. I didn’t know what the future would hold, but I knew music was the only compass I needed.

And then—life happened fast.

My very first week in California, I was invited to a writing session with Greyson Chance. At the time, I was still learning my way around L.A., unsure of how to navigate the industry, but I said yes. Always say yes to the room—you never know what moment is waiting for you on the other side.

That day, we wrote “Yours.”

We didn’t know what it would become—we just followed the feeling. We wrote with intention, vulnerability, and honesty. The kind of session where the lyrics practically wrote themselves and the melodies came from somewhere deeper. That song became the second single off Greyson’s album, and later, one of the most streamed tracks on the project.

What followed was surreal.“Yours” would go on to be the second biggest song on the album—and the entire album itself would eventually amass over 200 million streams.

When I received my plaque, the album had just passed 100 million streams. I stood there holding it, thinking back to that very first week—the moment when a leap of faith, a room full of music, and one honest song changed the entire trajectory of my journey.

That plaque wasn’t just a milestone—it was a reminder. That everything can change in a day. That stories matter. That your voice matters.

I share this not to flex, but to remind every songwriter and creative chasing this dream: one song can shift everything. One moment can validate all those years of trying to be heard.

Keep showing up. Keep writing. Keep saying yes.

Because your “Yours” moment? It might be one session away.