“Names” was an advance first single from Yearbook, my second album. It was inspired by a lifelong obsession I've had with spelling peoples' names correctly. This stems in part from the fact that my own name is usually misspelled (”Todd“ with one “d”s), but it also reflects a general desire on my part not only to connect with people in a deeper way—especially right now—but to recognize and celebrate difference, even if it's only a matter of one or two letters.

LYRICS:

Are you Sherry with an S?
Or is it Cheri with a C?
Is it S-H-A-R-I?
Or -E-R-R-I-E?
Andrea or Ahndreah?
Alisha or Alicia?

One T or 2, Matthew?
Is it Rebecca with a C or K?
How many Ls in Isabelle?
Does your Sarah end with H?

You may think I’m obsessed
About what’s in a name
To me it’s a lot
I can try to explain
You may think I'm obsessed
About what's in a name
For me, it’s a lot
I can try to explain

Are you Josie to your friends?
or is it always Josephine?
I don't want to condescend, Jo
When you hand me my cappuccino
Because I see you every day
And as stupid as it sounds
I don't want to be a stranger

-EE?, -EY?, -EIGH?
They say that God is in the details
Bradley, I've got to nail your name
Before I hit “send” on this email

This may seem like a joke
about an anxious mind
My OCD chromosome
working overtime
Or you might think it's a stroke
a canny social climb
But iI'd like to believe
that it's more benign
I just want to connect
(only connect)
In this sliver of time
Even if the cement
is an E or I
Or a Y