Best known for her features on some of the most successful Billboard Top 200 songs, including Dr. Dre’s “I Need a Doctor” and Diddy’s “Coming Home”, Skylar Grey has been a powerhouse in the music industry for years. Foregoing the microphone and lurking on the other side of the sound booth, Grey has been responsible for writing many of the catchy tunes we sing along to on the radio or listen to when we’re sad. Her credits include “Love the Way You Lie” performed by Eminem and Rihanna and “Clarity,” which she co-wrote with Zedd.

While her lyrical expertise and wisdom thrive, Grey is trading in her behind-the-scenes role for center stage. In 2013, the five-time GRAMMY nominated artist released her critically acclaimed album "Don’t Look Down." Full of pop, R&B, and electronic vibes, heavy bass, elegant piano, and upbeat rhythm, it’s no wonder that the album debuted at #8 on the Billboard Top 200. Songs like “Back from the Dead” reaffirm the tumultuous relationships we face. “Pulse” is a wonderful “fuck you” to the people who have hurt us, and “Glow in the Dark” is a track that makes you want to dance and take on the world. The album is truly a showcase of Grey’s talent as a versatile musician and lyricist.

Now, Grey is back with in the studio working on her second album. In the meantime, she released her single “Cannonball” featuring X Ambassadors last year. Straying away from her normal R&B, rap, and pop roots, Grey takes advantage of X Ambassador’s heavy alternative rock and indie sounds to experiment with her own. While her album flows like a fantastic pop masterpiece, “Cannonball” is a fresh take on the alternative genre with upbeat whistling and rustic guitar.

But while “Cannonball” promises to bring a new sound to Grey’s work, her newest single “Moving Mountains” reinforces the strides Grey has made as an artist. Turning in her synthetic beats for an acoustic guitar, Grey’s raw vocals and heavy emotions drip from every lyric of her single. “Most of my life I’ve let ambition get in the way of happiness- too focused on the future to enjoy the moment. Now living in Utah, I’ve realized the importance of taking the time to sit back and appreciate a mountain view. It's amazing how just being present has the power to elevate your mood.” This is the essence of “Moving Mountains." To accompany the song, Grey shot a music video in Park City, Utah where she lives to truly capture the beauty of the mountains that she speaks so eloquently about.

When I first heard the song, the haunting acoustics sent shivers down my spine. The second time I listened, I really paid attention to the lyrics. The instrumentals merely prove what a talented and worthy musician Grey is, but what elevates the song for me is the message that the lyrics so beautifully display. In the chorus, Grey coos: “For once push your ambitions aside/And instead of moving mountains/Let the mountains move you.”

As Berkeley students, we thrive on competition. We do everything with the hopes of building up our resumes and our LinkedIn profiles. Ambitions run high, and sometimes when faced with the copious amounts of pressure and stress, we forget to breathe. We forget to look around and remember that we got into Cal, that we belong here, and that we are worthy. We reach for perfection and accept nothing less than our best. We only want to win. We want to be the ones to move mountains.

But in doing so, we don’t stop to drink in the natural beauty of the world. We forget to admire how far we’ve come, where we’ve been, and where we are now. And “Moving Mountains” is a clear reminder that we need to. That we don’t need to be the best, that life is about more than our drive to be at the top. That it’s crucial to press the pause button on our busy lives and appreciate all that our worlds have to offer. It’s a beautiful reminder that sometimes we need to let the mountains move us.

So check out Skylar Grey’s new single and music video here and prepared to be moved. You can also check out her music on Spotify, iTunes and other digital media sources. This is the only the beginning for Grey, and I can’t wait to see what else she has in store.