The story behind the song.
Okay, so this song came to be because… HAHA oh my word! It honestly feels kinda dumb now, but here we are.
Basically I don’t know if anyone remembers a few years ago, there was this little trend on TikTok (or at least I think it was TikTok?) where people would upload an image into one of those little photo editing apps, and they had a template with which you could make it look like the cover art of a song. And of course 16-year-old me, dreaming of being a pop star, became absolutely obsessed.
I would spend like a LOT of time on this, uploading all sorts of images into Picsart, tweaking the text so it said “Attalie Anne,” and coming up with song titles that I thought sounded legit. It was just so fun to visualize what COULD be. And Picsart has stock images too, so sometimes I’d just pick one of those and roll with it.
Well, one day in February 2021, I uploaded this stock image of a really cool concrete planter-artsy-vase-thing LOL! And for some reason, the title I came up with was Cups, Bowls & Vases.
But then I paused.
Because wait a second—that was actually a good song title. And immediately, I wanted to write it.
At first, I didn’t have much of a concept besides the words themselves, but quickly, from there it became a happy little love song about memories and good moments being captured in cups, and bowls, and flower pots!
The Writing Process
This song didn’t happen overnight, but it also didn’t take too long—maybe a couple of weeks. I wrote it mostly between my bedroom floor and the window seat in my family kitchen, which, now that I think about it, is actually very on-brand for a song about cups and bowls.
One of my favorite moments while writing was when I realized I could sneak in an Elton John reference. I love Elton John. I grew up listening to ‘Your Song’, and let me tell you- I felt so cool incorporating it into this track HAHA!
Now, here’s where things get controversial—there was originally a third verse that I had to leave on the cutting room floor. And let me tell you, some of my close friends and family were not happy about that decision. I’ve had a few people (very passionately) argue that I need to release an extended version. So… we’ll see. I think I’d like that one day. Justice for Verse 3!
The meaning (to me)
For me, Cups, Bowls & Vases is about how love isn’t just in the grand, sweeping moments—it’s in the little things. The everyday things. The tiny, simple pieces that, when put together, make up a life full of love and memories.
That’s actually why the third verse was so specialu—it explored this idea from a retrospective perspective, looking back on a life filled with those moments. And honestly, that’s what I want. A life full of happy memories with the people I love.
I had the lovely opportunity to play this song at my best friend’s wedding, and then later at my mom and stepdad’s wedding, which made it even more meaningful to me. It solidified everything I already felt about the song—how love is built in those daily things, and how those moments become the memories we cherish the most.
The studio Process
I produced this song myself, and while the production wasn’t anything too crazy, it definitely added depth and layers to the track. One of my favorite parts was working on the harmonies with my aunt—those were fun to build.
And honestly? This whole process was such a learning curve for me. My mom was my biggest supporter while I was figuring everything out. I cannot say production is my strong suit, but I’m happy with what I created!
The response
From the feedback I’ve gotten, it seems like people have really loved this song. My best friend was not subtle about wanting me to release it—after I played it at her wedding, she hounded me forever, telling me to “just put it out already.” So, I think that’s a good sign. LOL! And I was actually at another friends wedding a couple months later, and she played it for her father daughter dance! I had no idea she was planning to do that, and there was definitely some crying LOL!
I love that people connect with it, whether it reminds them of their own memories with loved ones or makes them long for moments like that in the future. That’s all I could ever hope for with a song like this.
The song’s Aesthetic
If Cups, Bowls & Vases had a color, it would be something golden and honey-toned—warm, soft, glowing. Visually I picture lots of eclectic, stacked teacups and bowls, cake stands and vases, all mismatched , of course, ‘cause that’s the vibe we bring to the function.
Final Thoughts
It’s so funny to me that a random Picsart editing session turned into one of my favorite songs. But I think that’s kind of beautiful—how something so small and unexpected and maybe some would even say (me I’m the Some) silly, can lead to something so meaningful.
At its heart, Cups, Bowls & Vases is about love. Real love. The kind that’s built in the little moments, the kind that fills the spaces in between. And honestly? That’s my favorite kind of love story to tell.
XOXO, Attalie
