.jpeg?w=94&crop=1:1)
The duo had been writing music together when she left for the ill-fated tour.
Since her death, Rezza channeled his grief into his own music, sampling the late songstress' voice from songs they wrote together and songs she released before she died. He wanted to dedicate an album of his own to her, titled Songs For Christina.
Today (April 10), with the blessing from Grimmie's family, the first song sees the light of day. "Hard Mode," which tell the tales of overcoming obstacles, comes a year after Rezza underwent surgery to remove an avocado-sized tumor from his brain, something he highlights in the emotional tune. "All I ever wanted was a hit song / Buy a house for my parents but that might be all gone / Everyone's gathered 'round crying, something went wrong / There's a tumor in my brain but it's not as bad as when I lost love," he sings as Grimmie's angelic harmonies are heard soaring.
"I almost never put these songs out. They’re so personal I didn’t think the world wanted to hear them," Rezza confessed in a press release. "Next thing I knew I was on an operating table; wide awake, skull open & losing language while my brain's being worked on. I almost lost everything. If I had died or lost the ability to make music, the only thing I would’ve truly regretted would’ve been never finishing this album for her."
Songs for Christina is set to release later this year. Watch the "Hard Mode" video below.
