To the spies and stalkers (or the admirers who like my attitude)

To Wellington: I'm really sick of the sobriety kick that everyone's tried on me.

I mean, whether you like my songs or not, I'm quite happy with The Mist and all that. These Words was also fueled by drugs and alcohol. That wasn't a lie. 🐸 -

I think what's really happened re: the local scene is that James and Cass found POAK easy to mock, but then my songs started to mock them.

Though Machine Fatigue was really meant for Meesh, and to impress Evie. It's definitely a swipe at the fair-weather activism that I feel most arts people participate in... For example, when classical world thought their radio station was about to die, thousands mobilised on Parliament Grounds to protest, yet for the real issues most of them are conspicuously absent. 🤬 -

That probably changed the vibe, as my lyrics are sharp. My words cut like a knife: that's my talent. That's something I picked up from the Asian girls in high school, and eventually turned into an artform.

That's why I'm not a hugging-sharing person; with my friends, I end up hurting them badly if I'm too sour -- I find criticism a useful outlet to vent my many bitter and semi-objective thoughts. - As for These Words: well, that's a really unique piece, but I honestly doubt there are many poets as talented as Emanuel. He thinks of his poems as word jazz, so that's why I set them as word jazz. I've thought about setting Witi Ihimaera, but I haven't read his poems. I think that my enemies could study my scores if they want to know about scansion and rhythm. Art song isn't really my passion; I prefer storytelling through song. Emanuel paid me $2500 to set those poems, which is a low-ball offer for a composer -- I'd charge about 3-4 times that for a similar project. 👋