I ate sm steak and brisket on New Yearās with some of my favorite people. Tbh, the winter doesnāt feel like a time of rebirth, my body uses it for deep rest, grief, and contemplation. It always feels like the big death before the renewal of spring, like Aries season is really when the ānew year new meā energy starts hitting me. Regardless of how my body feels, 2025 was actually a super important year in terms of my art. I made the most money I ever have through a merchandise modeling gig, and creating art. Still not enough, but it felt like an amazing start. For years I convinced myself that no one would ever give me money to make art or buy my work, especially because Iām not formally trained in music or visual art. I learned in 2025 that thatās just not true. I started working on an album thatāll hopefully be out in the spring full of songs Iām really proud of. I started a Substack. I played my first sets in seven years, and taught the audience the hook of an unreleased song. I participated in a fellowship, and made some friends I can be creative with. I realized I have a penchant for media journalism, and conducted my first and second interviews ever. I directed, shot, and wrote my first documentary and watched it air on cable TV, and be screened at a local film festival. I started doing acrylic paintings again after like a six year break, and started teaching myself through experimentation how to paint the ocean and the sky. I made some of the most important art Iāve made thus far about Caribbean American identity, contextualizing the diaspora through history and my own familyās immigration story. Iām really proud of what Iām building towards- a creative career on my own terms that allows me to utilize all of my talents. Iām excited to put in twice as much work in terms of refining my multiple crafts, and Iām gonna keep hoping that the opportunities will follow.
I love my friends, and they taught me endlessly about love in 2025 (s/o
@llalalanderr my sister/brother/bestie whose friendship is a light). I love
@critical_drag who is my rock and my baby always, an amazing partner and my bestie who really helped me make it through a super messy and draining year.