Deep Cuts

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley

It’s a Friday night in Berkeley, fall of 2000, and Percy Marks is doing what she does best: overanalyzing music. Hall and Oates play on the jukebox, and though Percy has no musical talent of her own, she can’t stop herself from pontificating on the song—much to the annoyance of those around her. But tonight feels different. Sitting beside her at the bar is Joe Morrow, a fellow student and songwriter, who finds Percy’s musings intriguing instead of irritating.

When Joe asks Percy for feedback on one of his songs, their connection sparks a partnership that will evolve over the years, driving them to explore new passions and confronting their egos in ways they never expected. But as their collaboration grows, Percy starts to wonder: is it helping her find her voice, or is it holding her back from discovering who she truly is?

Set against the backdrop of Brooklyn bars and San Francisco dance floors, Deep Cuts delves into the complexities of talent, obsession, and the unrelenting need to be heard—examining how our relationships with others shape the voices we create, and whether the price of that creativity is worth paying.