the second Barcelona show was so so beautiful. i loved singing to y’all in that sweaty upstairs basement! my archivists..my after show ritual is watching your cellphone videography & listening to you sing along in the background. ode to the ones in my line of sight who sing every lyric. when i’m about to forget a line i look at you and remember. i sang two new songs in the set and saw people singing along by end. listening is truly an art form and i never take your presence for granted🖤 when i really think about it, how could i possibly complete an album in quarantine? without our regular ritual? songs, yes. i’ve written more songs than i’ve ever had at one time with some really amazing people. i’ve enjoyed those studio times so much & made some really beautiful new friends. i’ve also been anxious and insecure at times at the slowness and unpredictability of my album process. feeling like something was missing but not sure exactly what. i’m realizing that for me, in this moment, an album is a body of work that needs bodies. i grew up editing my poems on an open mic stage. the lines that landed were the lines that got mm’s. the lines that got edited out were the ones that felt awkward on my tongue. i love a notebook. i love writing in the studio too. still, the body of work needs bodies. you are so much a part of my process. thank you for being such loving and intentional listeners. thank you for your patient patient ears. you teach me how to share🖤 photos by @timadorf styled by @angelxhero in @homebyareeayl & @sustainaheaux