writing this while admiring the movement of the water... living in chicago, i don't have access to the ocean, but honestly, lake michigan is just as beautiful.

it's cold here for most of the year, so when the temperature finally gets high enough to put your feet in the sand, i think a lot of people feel the same way i do.

and for those who don't know, beyond being part of my artistic visual identity, i'm obsessed with the ocean and beach energy. the peace of hearing waves crash takes me back home... back to waking up early to get to the beach by 8am, hearing the crunchy sand at Praia da Costa (the most famous beach in my hometown), laying in the sun until after lunch, and going home five shades darker 😭😭😭 so good.

being here now feels surreal. it's been 7 years since i last went back to my hometown and honestly, i don't even know when that'll happen.

i got married 6 months ago and i genuinely thought that moment would never come. now i'm doing things that, if someone had told me a year ago i'd be doing, i wouldn't have believed them.

i had to update my to do list for the week, and as soon as i sat down i started writing in my little notebook. i made a point of using paper and pen in a moment that felt this nice... the breeze at the perfect temperature, the sun coming in and out from behind the clouds, and these biting flies attacking my ankles hahaha. but still, being at the beach at 4pm on a wednesday because someone who puts up with my lifestyle gives me the flexibility i've always dreamed of, leaving me with nothing to worry about besides my projects and

my mental health.

while listening to some of my demos, i started planning the promotion for this year's releases, and i forget how incredible these songs are...

the next one is called "if i had a dollar" and it's amazing (usually my friends' favorite), but "don't wait up" is definitely my favorite.

i honestly think this song is one of the demos where i've reached the highest level of satisfaction with my sound. it's exactly how i've been feeling artistically, and imagining all the visual possibilities for it makes me want to work even harder so i can spend as much as possible on its release. seriously, i'm so excited about this track. don't know if it'll be my breakthrough hit, but if it were, i'd be extremely happy.

but honestly, that one only loses the favoritism battle to the song that inspired my entire rebranding. this one really awakened my artistic self and it's called "não vai voltar." it won't come out for a loooong time 'cause it has to be released at the right moment.

till then, i'll keep taking one step at a time

towards little pleasures like sitting by

the water and welcoming another spring.

feels like my year finally started.