Goodbye, Algorithm. Hello, Me.

I once considered buying that little blue checkmark on Instagram. You know, the so-called badge of relevance. But when I saw it costs €16 a month and barely gives you anything real in return, I paused. I asked myself: Why am I trying to prove myself to an algorithm that doesn’t even know who I am? That was my wake-up call.

So instead of feeding the algorithm, I decided to build my own universe — literally. I created my own website last year. My sacred, no-permission-needed space. Some friends’ accounts were getting hacked anyway, and I thought, Why not invest in my own platform instead of a rented one?

Fast forward: this year, I launched my online shop. Not “merch” — clothes I’d actually wear. T-shirts that speak my truth for every damn occasion. I didn’t make them to go viral. I made them for me. Because sometimes you just want to wear your soul on your sleeve — literally.

I also started working seriously on my debut album. And it’s not easy. There are big decisions ahead — from mixing and mastering to promo videos — and the truth is, doing everything by yourself is expensive, exhausting, and sometimes isolating. But it’s also empowering. I’d rather take the long road and stay true to my vision than compromise my art just to keep up with the social media hamster wheel.

And yes — this journey forced me to say goodbye to a few people I once called friends. Some of them expected things I could no longer give. Some simply vanished when I needed support. So I made the hardest, clearest decision: to say hello to myself again.

I stopped rushing timelines. I stopped forcing outcomes. I realized the only opinion that truly matters is my own — not out of ego, but out of alignment. Out of respect for the vision I carry and the woman I’m becoming.

I’m currently building. Still dreaming. Still in the middle of the process. And while not every project is finished yet, I’ve learned to enjoy the ride. Like singing — I never thought I’d be booked for vocal gigs this year, but here I am, preparing a 60-song setlist, performing for 3 hours at a time. It’s preparing me vocally for the album too. A full-circle blessing.

As artists, we must stay flexible. Brave. Willing to grow through the in-between. And above all — we must stay true to the frequency of our own voice. That’s what makes us timeless.