Ten years ago, I turned 30. I didn't feel too ceremonious about the number itself. Maybe it sounded high-ish, because after all, I had never in my life been older. I was vaguely aware of traits the dominant culture might start attributing to me, but I was astute enough to realize that 30 wasn't old... Continue Reading →
Last summer an Instagram account I follow, whose creator (a local artist) captures forest fungi and other specimens, featured a photo of a mushroom I'd never heard of before. Laccaria amethystina, the amethyst deceiver. In addition to it being a purple mushroom, which is already mysterious and cool, the name arrested me at first sight.... Continue Reading →
My old classmate Brooke*, a visual art major, painted and pasteled the wings of fantastical butterflies. Exalted Tree of Life circulatory systems. Her own conventionally beautiful visage in buoyant soap-shimmering orbs. Her rainbow-age was as extra as Lisa Frank's, but more graceful. All of this was both her great endowment and her great curse."I'm trying... Continue Reading →
My last album, Best Dead Masterpiece, treats nostalgia as a largely positive thing. A thing that is prized and hoarded. A shard of personal history, of individuality, stubbornly preserved. A robust and colorful way of seeing, the absence of which makes someone appear small-minded and dull. As is typical of me, I am now beginning... Continue Reading →
Here it is, Everyone. The culmination of almost 18 months of work from composition to release. Like most of my material, it's not a happy album, but a cathartic album. I heard someone use the term "vent art" the other night, and this might be that. I have also become fond of calling what I... Continue Reading →
Let’s face it: for better or worse, humans compare things to other things. And even though my music has changed a lot since my debut as Alexandra Rising, I still think it’s most likely to be compared (by those of a certain age, anyway) to the music of one Ellen "Tori" Amos. These days, I’m... Continue Reading →
[In September 2020, I began a series of blog entries discussing the themes and inspirations of my dark chamber-pop album Best Dead Masterpiece, scheduled for release on BandCamp in January 2021.] Well, Everyone - there have been some unforeseen delays, but the album should be out in the next few days. So this will be... Continue Reading →
[In September 2020, I began a series of blog entries discussing the themes and inspirations of my dark chamber-pop album Best Dead Masterpiece, scheduled for release on BandCamp in January 2021.] Before anything else I ought to say this: to my knowledge I have never been personally acquainted with any young men that have perpetrated... Continue Reading →
[In September 2020, I began a series of blog entries discussing the themes and inspirations of my dark chamber-pop album Best Dead Masterpiece, scheduled for release on BandCamp in January 2021.] (I strongly encourage you to pull up Lambchop's Wilco cover, "Reservations", and listen to it while reading this entry.)I've always been intrigued by unconventional... Continue Reading →
The Sold Kingdom 