Artist, writer and classical guitarist Joshua Merello performs in "The Dusty Bookshelf" book store in Manhattan, Kan. Merello, who had played guitar as a hobby in and out of different bands, began taking music seriously at the beginning of 2018 when his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The family struggled to express their emotions in words, but through playing guitar for his parents during that time, Merello found he was able to pour both his joys and struggles into his music.