i know about zero people who listen to MUNA will be surprised to learn that i am neurodivergent. it was in the songs before i even had the words to speak about it. i struggle with depression, anxiety, addiction, and obsessive thinking. my depression makes me remote, my anxiety makes me too up close, and my obsessive thinking and addictions are failed escape routes from either of these upsetting situations. in preparing to put out this record, we’ve talked a lot about the growth that we have been afforded through working on this project for the majority of our twenties. again, it’s in the songs. the cycles i used to be stuck in track after track have taken up less space on each record, making room for me to explore the subtler, more tender, and more intimate reality of a life grounded in my gift of a body. but i want to share that, also in preparing for the release of this record, i’ve suffered a bout of anxiety that was nearly incapacitating. the only reason i have been able to continue to show up for interviews and performances is that my band mates and loved ones have carried me. i am moving towards a better place, but i’m shaken. the thing i keep thinking is that i care about showing up for the other people who are like me - who panic when things are too good or too big, who require maintenance and asking for help to do things that seem simple or fun to others, who are overstimulated and fatigued, who blame themselves but are trying to learn not to. i know that people who listen to MUNA accept me for who i am, which is why i felt comfortable sharing about this. yes, this record is more joyful. yes, we’ve made so much progress as people through the life of this project. but i also want to affirm what we already know, that growth isn’t linear, that it’s okay for me to be human. i want to thank all the people who have supported me the last few weeks, and i also want to thank every queer person who has talked about their neurodivergence openly and without shame. you have encouraged me to be able to do the same. our album is out friday. we got this. happy pride.