If you’ve been following me since the beginning, you already know my start was … kind of awkward. I was so excited about all the new technology and its potential for storytelling. It was. so. cool.

I had this big, wild idea: four gorgeous avatars and their fictional universe. They were supposed to be the front of the project—we’d follow their stories, write music, build backstories, create adventures, even throw in some comedy. I’d even put myself into the mix as an avatar–sort of a woman-behind-the-curtain. (See my first YouTube post – at least I’m mostly on track.)

It all looked like a great way to integrate storytelling into the music. But it turns out, trying to do all of that as an independent artist? Yeah, no. It was hard enough focusing on music and my artistic brand. Those avatars were taking over my life. One clear answer.

I fired them.

But, no … it was hard. I entertained salvaging the concept. Maybe I could make a short-form episodic series. You know, they’d write music … there’d be this talking cat … a billionaire guy … a spaceship … a secret payload that morphs everyone into aliens … except one of them. I spent at least five weeks spooling a world and outlining multiple seasons. I even devised a music encryption scheme using python!?

Fired! […but lots of cool tunes came out of it 🤔]

What I realized is this was my (questionable) way of looking for projects to inspire me to write more music. I know myself. It’s happened before. And sure, I still enjoy digital art and generative experiments, but let’s save that for the music videos when I have time for it 😂. (Side note: what the hell, three-fingered humans and technically inaccurate guitars.)

If you haven’t already checked out the Debut Album, that’s a great place to start. (Go ahead and imagine your favorite Avatresses when you listen.) Throw on some headphones, take it for a walk, or just vibe with it however you like. And if you’re curious where this wild ride is headed, Nostalgia 19 drops on April 11, 2025.