In 2017, I found myself navigating the end of a decade-long relationship while watching my hometown transform into something completely unrecognizable. Nothing made sense and long hours at the synth DIY storefront and hackspace Modular Addict became an effective distraction. On bad days, it felt like an isolationist cell; on good days, it was like being a kid with the keys to a candy store. I had access to nearly any sound I could imagine. Sleep was rare, so at night I decided to turn that metaphorical cell into something productive by writing what would become my first full-length release, misery.dev.

The project became a document of the overwhelming disorientation I was experiencing, and its companion release, misery.dev – select, was designed to introduce a new creative direction. However, in an almost too-perfect imitation of everything happening around me, the equipment I used to give life to the album guaranteed its death: during a relocation, sound patches became corrupt, floppy disks failed, and USB drives went missing. Stability is always the expense.

The remaining misery.dev – select 7″ is all that survived. It’s a glimpse into a confusing transitional period and signals the end of the ‘before times.’