Craig Greenberg Keeps the Faith Alive on Inspiring New Single “If You Stop Believing”

New York City singer-songwriter Craig Greenberg knows that chasing a dream takes more than wishful thinking. On his latest single, “If You Stop Believing,” the acclaimed piano-rock musician delivers an uplifting reminder that perseverance, meaningful relationships, and taking action are essential to building the life we envision.

The sixth single from his forthcoming full-length album, “If You Stop Believing,” reflects the perspective of an artist who has spent more than 15 years navigating the unpredictable music industry while remaining committed to his craft.

Drawing from the piano-driven songwriting traditions of Billy Joel, Ben Folds, and Randy Newman, Craig Greenberg approaches the track with his signature emphasis on storytelling and emotional sincerity.

At its heart, the song challenges the idea that believing in something is enough to make it happen. Instead, Craig Greenberg encourages listeners to pursue their ambitions actively, even when the outcome remains uncertain.

Equally important is the song's emphasis on human connection. For Craig Greenberg, creative ambition can sometimes become isolating, making relationships with friends and family essential to maintaining perspective.

“I hope it inspires people to persevere in pursuit of their dream, to keep pushing ahead even when the path isn’t so brightly lit,” Craig Greenberg shares.

Produced alongside Wayne Silver at Ice Plant Studio in Long Island City, the recording features Craig Greenberg on piano, guitar, and vocals, Hiroyuki Matsuura on drums, and Tony Tino on bass. Alex Psaroudakis handled mastering.

With five independently released albums and more than 1,000 performances behind him, Craig Greenberg brings considerable experience to this latest chapter.

“If You Stop Believing” ultimately offers something increasingly valuable: encouragement without pretending the journey is easy. It's a thoughtful reminder that dreams require both conviction and the courage to keep moving forward.

“If You Stop Believing” emphasizes taking action rather than simply hoping things will work out. Was there a particular turning point in your career when you realized that putting yourself out there could change the direction of your life?

Oh for sure. Actually getting my start in music was an example of that. Before I was doing music, I was really unhappy (and unhealthy) while working a corporate job in NYC.  When I made the decision to pursue being a songwriter, I knew I needed to make a big change.  I was reading a lot of self-help books at the time (I remember "The Artist's Way" was hugely influential) and decided to take a sabbatical, and went to live in Chile (where a friend from high school was living) and got work teaching English down there. 

After a few months, I met a couple of guys performing covers in a bar who invited me to start sitting in with them (on percussion and singing harmonies); and that led to me being offered my own gig at another bar, playing and singing 3 nights/week.  Before that point I thought I'd just be a songwriter, but I remember distinctly waking up after that first weekend of singing gigs, and knew that something had fundamentally changed in my life.  I knew as long as I was singing and performing, my life would be OK.  So my leap of faith to leave NYC and go down there wasn't just a turning point, it kind of saved my life. 

You've performed more than 1,000 shows across different countries and spent over 15 years building your career independently. How has your relationship with ambition changed, and what does success mean to you today compared to when you first started?

Well, I never really had a goal of being famous (i always saw fame as like a potential by-product of the gig).  My ambition from the beginning was to make my living with my art, and well, I'm still working on that goal..  But after these many years on, success to me is living the way I want to live, having a healthy amount of freedom, and charting my own course.  There's a part of me that is never really satisfied, but there's also a part of me that's just happy to be active and still in the game after all these years.  

The song also explores the importance of maintaining personal relationships while pursuing creative ambitions. Have you ever been so dedicated to music that it came at the expense of those connections, and what did that teach you?

Oh absolutely... songwriting for me is a solitary act, and I really need to isolate myself to be productive, and there have been times when I've pushed people away in order to keep my focus.  But I know that when I get too removed from people it’s a recipe for my head to go into a dark place.  That reference in the song is really a reminder to myself to be sure to stay connected.

You've built your musical identity around piano-driven storytelling, drawing inspiration from artists like Billy Joel, Ben Folds, and Randy Newman. What do you believe makes piano rock such an effective vehicle for communicating personal experiences and universal emotions?

I dont know that there's anything inherent to piano rock that makes it a good storytelling vehicle, I just know that it's the means that's been the most effective and direct for me.  Though maybe the way a piano is constructed has something to do with it as well...ie, the range of low to high notes you can play at the same time--that's a lot harder to do on a guitar.  But I'm sure if the piano didn't exist I would have found another vehicle to use, lol.

“If You Stop Believing” is the sixth release from your upcoming album. How does this song fit into the larger story you're telling with the record, and what does this new collection reveal about where you are personally and creatively?

The record deals in part with my adjustment into middle age.  As we get older, it's easy to let cynicism in, and this song definitely serves as a reminder to myself to keep my head up and moving ahead (I'm a big believer in the old adage that "the only way out is through"), and as corny as it sounds—to keep faith in the world.  

Despite all the darkness out there right now, there's still so much beauty and light to be found if you take the time to look.  And creatively, I feel like I'm still just getting started, which may sound crazy to say as this song will be on my 6th album, but I know I still have a lot more to give, and I'm as excited as ever to keep making and sharing my music!