Composer Scott Alan Says 'Goodbye for Now' to Go Back to School

Theatre composer Scott Alan, who has spent many years working with some of the brightest talents Broadway and the West End, has just announced on his Tumblr that he is taking a leave from songwriting to focus on his personal life. He writes:

It's been almost 13 years since I moved back to New York to pursue the art form of being a writer and over eight years since I released my debut compilation of songs, 'Dreaming Wide Awake.'

Since then I've succeeded in 80% of the dreams that I set out to pursue. I've worked with my childhood idols. I've worked with unknown/future idols. I've mentored young talent. I've inflated and deflated my ego. I've seen close friends drift apart as they shipped off to grow their families, while I drifted off to different countries to perform concerts at sold out arena's.

I've released four studio albums, one greatest hits album, one Live double album and one EP telling my story in my own voice (with the help of my friend, Shoshana Bean).

I've met thousands of people around the world who've expressed a kindred spirit to my work and whom I now know names and stories of.

What's next for me? In truth, what would normally be next for me would be to pack up, travel the world in support of a new album filled with songs about loneliness and unrequited love from someone whom I've not had the privilege of meeting. yet.

I am 37. I could continue in this manner for years to come if I chose to. It wouldn't be a bad thing nor one I would see as a painful process to pack my bags again and head to whatever country asks me for my hands to play while talented vocalists and actors take loving care of my work.

I could continue. But, the thing about dreams are that you can often have more than just one. I've accomplished one. And yes, I know there's more to still accomplish but my music and lyrics are starting to repeat themselves and I am finding myself with less things to say.

I have many themes in my lyrics. Sometimes I talk about the struggles of depression, sometimes I talk about the fight with loneliness and many times I talk about my hope to start and raise a family. To leave behind a legacy that is more than just words and a melody.

The more I travel the less time I have to form a relationship with anyone in a deeper sense of the word. Three dates in and I'm off to London or Australia or Germany. Often times I'm there for weeks or even months.

I would never say I'm retiring because music is my life. But it is time for me to settle down in one place. I never graduated college so the idea of going back to school to finally graduate and inherit some new knowledge and create some brand new design excites me. That design will hopefully lead to a new story to explore in my work. I don't know the answers yet. All I know is that I don't feel it possible to find my soul mate, whom I believe is looking for me as hard as I am looking for him, if I'm never around to be found.

Starting November 1st, upon my return to New York after a two month work trip in London, I will begin to put my work aside and put myself out front. My work has become my existence for over 13 years but now it's time to share a life outside the confines of my home where my piano resides.

This is not goodbye. I'm not retiring only to return for my 'out of retirement tour.' I have a concert in 2016 that I have already committed to outside of the country that I need to see through but that will be my last concert for at least two years. My latest album, released this past month with the voices of Cynthia Erivo & Oliver Tompsett, will be my last album release for the same period of time.

I will also be leaving social media. Robbie Rozelle, my webmaster, designer and friend, will take over.

I will also be leaving New York City when my lease is up in May as I travel to a different state (that I will keep to myself), and begin the process of finally graduating from college and getting my diploma and hopefully finding a man whom I can share a life with in the process. My heart is open and my walls are down and this is the best chance I have to give someone all of me.

This industry is fickle. I absolutely adore it but I don't agree with a lot of it. I have always considered myself a very supportive individual while watching others finding ways to compete. My only competition has been with myself. Friendships in this industry are rare. If you are lucky to have at least two friends in your life, you're lucky. Lately, I look around and everyone has moved on to settle down with their own family, which leaves me isolated in a baron home.

I'm also looking forward to reaching out to my talented friends just to say 'Hi, I'm thinking of you' and not 'Hi, I have a small favor to ask of you.' In this industry, we lose sight of what's important and we start to become robots in our expectations of one another to be there at all times when we need them. Yet, as artists we need them to share a stage with us, or tweet about our latest offerings. The industry is a business, not just a place to showcase talent. I rarely converse with anyone about life any more and I can't wait to start and end an email with a simple 'Just wanted to say I was thinking of you and sending you love,' instead of 'Hey, are you free on Monday to come sing for me?'

In this industry, when a woman gets pregnant and removes herself from the race of being considered for the leading roles on Broadway they are often forgotten. It's cruel and sad but it's what it is. No matter how perfect they are for that role, there's now a new crop of talent and that new mother now has to fight herself back into the race no matter how brilliant they are.

I know that when I return, and I WILL return, I may have already been forgotten. That can't be of my concern at this point and time. My focus will be on me and exploring the possibilities of a new dream. One that has tiny foot prints being played with by two loving men who are growing a family together from the ground up.

I thank you for your continued support over my career. I thank you for letting me into your homes with my music and I thank you for feeling the desire to reach out to me with your own stories upon listening to mine that is set to music.

Until then, if you see me in a coffee shop serving coffee - don't be surprised. I will need to pay for my schooling somehow. Say hi. Don't be embarrassed for me. I don't see this as a demotion. Work is work and I will not only be proud to stand behind that counter, but I'll make one hell of a latte for you (double express, with two pumps of sugar free vanilla syrup and a drizzle of caramel).

Until we meet again,

SA

Scott Alan is an internationally acclaimed songwriter who has worked with some of the brightest stars of theatre, TV, film and recording. Some of those artists include Grammy Award winning Pentatonix, Grammy Award nominated artists Jane Monheit, Marc Broussard, Taylor Dayne, Tony Award winning artists Sutton Foster, Adriane Lenox, Randy Graff, Frances Ruffle, Lea Salonga, film and TV stars Tracie Thoms, Patina Miller, Katie Stevens, Danny-Boy Hatchard, Cheyenne Jackson, Megan Hilty, Samantha Barks, Jeremy Jordan and reality stars Sam Bailey, Collabro, Diane De Garmo, Christina Marie, RJ Helton among others. This will be Scott's last show in London this year before he returns to New York for an extended period.

After the 2007 release of his debut album Dreaming Wide Awake, Alan has gone on to release six follow up albums that include Keys, What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up, Live, Anything Worth Holding on To and Cynthia Erivo and Oliver Tompsett sing Scott Alan.

Alan has toured the world and has sold out concerts in New York City, Japan, London, Holland, Germany, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Australia & Varies cities in South and North America.

In 2012, Alan's composition "It's Good to See You Again"was featured on the premiere episode of the ninth season of So You Think You Can Dance andwas the #1 downloaded song from the series that evening on iTunes andAmazon.