In 2020, I had a job in Hollywood creating instruction sheets for movie theater standees, the large cardboard displays you see in theater lobbies. I was determined to move up, but I couldn’t seem to get out of that position. I rarely had the opportunity to actually design, which was what I was passionate about.

The work that fulfilled me happened after hours. I was building BLMTD, producing fashion shows with my partner Mohini, performing with my band, and teaching myself animation with whatever time I had left. As I kept creating, I began to see that the music, apparel, and animation weren’t three separate pursuits. They were all part of the same vision.