Even though I'm retired for some years now I still have something positive to say to kids. And they still listen.
As long as the songs are strong, I think you can express yourself in any style and have it be soulful and have it be your own voice.
I met my second husband on a bus. We looked at each other and that was it. We were both married to other people at the time and behaved badly, but we didn't seem to have any choice. We were very happy for nearly 50 years and would still be together if it wasn't for the bloody railways.