Music has a special way of helping us express feelings that are sometimes difficult to put into words. For Erick Rivera, his song “Till We Turn Grey” became a personal way of reminding his wife how much she means to him after more than 15 years of marriage. Inspired by the loss of his mother-in-law to cancer in March 2026, the song reflects on love, grief, the value of time and the importance of appreciating the people who make life meaningful.
With more than 1,200 songs written and over 35 years of playing acoustic guitar with his church worship band, Erick has spent much of his life turning real-life experiences into music. His songwriting often draws from the experiences of his wife, children, friends and the challenges people face in everyday life. Rather than keeping his feelings to himself during a difficult period, he chose to express them through a song that celebrates the memories he and his wife have created while looking forward to the years still ahead of them.
Beyond his songwriting, Erick has recently begun producing his own music using production software and AI tools, giving him more freedom to bring his ideas to life. However, his approach remains rooted in meaningful stories, genuine emotions and music that speaks to real struggles while inspiring hope.
In this interview with Spinex Music, Erick Rivera opens up about the personal story behind “Till We Turn Grey,” the influence of his father and Mexican songwriter Armando Manzanero on his love for music, his extensive songwriting journey, and his thoughts on the growing use of AI in music production. He also shares why he believes life is precious, love should never be taken for granted, and the time we have with the people we love is a gift worth cherishing.
“Till We Turn Grey” is a beautiful title for a love song. What was the first thought or feeling that gave you the idea for the song?
My mother-in-law passed away in March this year. Through the grieving process, I decided to tell my wife what I was feeling.
You wrote this as a confession of love to your wife after more than 15 years of marriage. Was there something about your relationship at this point in your lives that made you want to put those feelings into a song?
As we were grieving my mother-in-law, who passed away from cancer, I decided I should remind my wife how much I love her.
The idea of staying together “till we turn grey” suggests loving someone through all the different seasons of life. When you wrote the song, were you thinking more about the years you have already shared or the many years you still hope to have together?
I was thinking about the great memories we already have, but also looking forward to building new memories together.
You wanted to tell your wife all the things you love about her and about your relationship. Was there one particular thing about her that was especially difficult to put into words, but became easier to express through music?
My wife is not as affectionate as I am. Sharing my feelings through music comes naturally to me.
Your father was a singer, so love songs and ballads were part of your childhood. Do you remember any particular song or artist from those early years that shaped the way you think about writing about love?
My dad listened to Armando Manzanero, a Mexican songwriter who wrote great love songs. I love all of his songs, and I still listen to them.
You have written more than 1,200 songs and spent over 35 years playing acoustic guitar with your church worship band. After all those years of writing, what still makes you pick up a guitar and start another song?
Typically, my inspiration comes from real-life experiences, something that my wife, my children, or I am experiencing, or something my friends are experiencing.
You recently began producing your own music using production software. What was the biggest surprise for you when you went from writing and playing songs to having control over the vocals, instruments, arrangement and overall production?
It was empowering. Nowadays, with software that incorporates AI, the sky is the limit. It is up to us to create and produce what we want. My biggest surprise is that I can create music easily, but there is a lot of bad music being made with AI. Listening to all that bad music is painful and gives AI music a bad reputation.
With such a large number of songs written over the years, how do you know when a song has something special enough to take beyond the notebook or guitar and turn into a finished recording?
Typically, it is a feeling, an instinct in my gut. Sometimes, it is simply my desire to say something about a topic. For instance, writing about what it feels like to battle cancer.
You have said that music can touch our souls in a way that nothing else can. When you listen back to “Till We Turn Grey,” what do you hope your wife feels, and what do you hope another couple might recognise in the song?
I hope my wife and others realise that life is precious and shorter than we think. It is a gift to love and be loved by someone amazing. We should not take each other for granted, and we should make the most of the time we have together.
After more than 15 years of marriage, 35-plus years of making music and more than 1,200 songs, what does “Till We Turn Grey” say about where you are in your life as a husband, songwriter and artist today?
I am thankful for my life and for the opportunity to share my messages with others through music. I like music that is deep, that speaks about the real struggles in our lives, but also inspires us to keep trying to make this world a better place.
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