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Masquerade's Feeling Creative Magazine Feature: Trust Issues & The Healing Power of Making Music Must Cut Through The Noise

This post was originally published in Feeling Creative digital magazine on March 13, 2026. Feeling Creative is a creative hub for storytellers and makers, spotlighting the work and wisdom of independent artists, filmmakers, photographers, writers and musicians. Feeling Creative magazine’s mission is to be a genuine creative space for creative people to guest post and build valuable connections for free (without any politics or ads). The blog empowers passionate and knowledgeable experts to share the stories, strategies, art and inspiration that fuel the creative world.  There’s a lot of noise surrounding creatives. For example, the cacophony of social media and its accompanying exhaustion and the serious threat of AI to creatives, linked to deeper issues of deplatforming and miserable streaming payouts for professional musicians specifically. As a Verified Human musician and member of New Bohemia, I am acutely aware of this concerning reality, along with the feelings of helpless...
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Four Female Guitarists and Vocalists Who Inspire Me!

    Happy International Women's Day! I want to appreciate four amazing female guitarists and vocalists I continue to look up to throughout my music journey.    Brody Dale When I was first getting into punk rock, I heard The Distillers. Specifically, my best friend at the time offered their album Coral Fang as a CD she'd burned for me. She drew an electric guitar surrounded by lightning bolts as its cover. We listened to it together one day after school. To this day, The Hunger remains my favourite song from the album. Its bittersweet mix of intimate acoustic and blistering electric guitar always makes my heart explode with emotion.  Brody's raw, husky voice redefined for me what a woman singing was supposed to sound like. Her alto range was the same as mine, and that immediately put me at ease. I was comfortable singing along for once. Brody's unapologetic fierceness in self-expression, visceral imagery in songs like Drain The Blood and Hall of Mirrors, and her...
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My Single "Trust Issues" Feels Like A Velvet Wrapped Dagger

My new single Trust Issues releases on March 13, 2026! Its stark yellow and black colour scheme serves as a warning: You've been here before, on the edge of opening up or shutting it all down. You've been through it too many times. And yet…what if it's different this time? Trust Issues is a song for when trust feels like a velvet wrapped dagger.    After almost two months of writing, recording, mixing, and mastering, I'm thrilled to share how Trust Issues came together! Songwriting As my first release of 2026, and particularly as a single, I wanted Trust Issues to follow both thematically and sonically from my debut synthpop album Afterlove.   I guard my heart and don't trust easily. Reflecting on this inspired me to pick up my acoustic guitar and start writing lyrics. I had the faintest resemblance of a musical idea back in the first week of December 2025, just prior to Afterlove's release. I started strumming some chords and just blurted "I don't tr...
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Masquerade 2026 Releases - 3 Singles, 2 EPs, and A Lot Of Evolution

Following my debut synthpop album Afterlove  in 2025, I'm excited to announce all the music I'm releasing in 2026!  March 13, 2026 - Trust Issues (Single) You've been here before, on the edge of opening up or shutting it all down. You've been through it too many times. And yet…what if it's different this time? Here's a song for when trust feels like a velvet wrapped dagger.    May 8, 2026 - Runaway (Single) It's never too late to turn a corner! Runaway is energetic and uplifting, urging you to chase all your hopes and dreams, to bravely run through that open door for a brighter future.    July 10, 2026  - Darkest Hours   (EP) I wrote my Darkest Hours EP during a merciless polar vortex. When the power went out for hours, and I was grappling with hardships in the freezing dark, I still found the strength to chase the warmth of light.  Here are the songs I'm very excited for you to hear! I'm Lonely Darkest Hours Temptation These three ...
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Masquerade's Sonic Shift and New Techniques

  Songwriting always starts with my acoustic guitar or piano. When I'm happy with the raw version, I start working on production and layering in more instruments. A core aspect of my sonic identity as Masquerade is juxtaposing synths, moody soundscapes, and electronic drums with "natural" sounds such as acoustic guitar and symphonic instruments. I think this combination is interesting and distinct! As I write more and more songs, I inevitably shift my sonic identity in exciting new directions. The sound of my debut synthpop album Afterlove was exclusively influenced by my once favourite band Cannons. They’re known for their nostalgic blend of ethereal guitars, synths, and vocals packaged as synthpop with indie, disco, and funk influences. In this spirit, Afterlove features catchy guitar riffs, lush synth pads, strong drums, pulsing bass, and eccentric vocals all wrapped up in velvety production. Following Afterlove's cathartic recording and release process, I natural...
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The Power of Self Hosting and Why I Exclusively Release My Music For Free

Releasing music after a fulfilling creative process is always exciting! There's a lot to consider when it comes to deciding exactly how you want to release your music. For musicians and producers looking to release music commercially, it's important to do extensive research and get as much advice as possible from peers and experts alike. I've done my own research throughout the years, as well as talking to many musicians and producers who are trying to make a living from their music.  I'm not giving any form of advice in this post. Rather, I'm sharing my opinion about why I think independent musicians and producers self-hosting their music is the best way going forward. Additionally, I want to talk about why I exclusively release my music for free, as this is integral to my creative identity and independence.  Commercializing Music As much as the musical landscape is constantly changing, I've learned that there are several steps fundamental to releasing music co...
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When You Run Out Of Excuses, Make More Music!

I've had my Boss Katana 100w amp since 2016. The same year I got it, I also got my Make More Music sticker and put it prominently on my amp so it could inspire me to do just that. Releasing my debut synthpop album  Afterlove,  and continuing to work on new music, has awakened a burning question: Why didn't I make more music and release it sooner? The Reality of My Circumstances For starters, I have to acknowledge the reality of my life circumstances. I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees, working all throughout my studies. Then I immediately transitioned into full time work, which unfortunately became more scarce as time went on. The COVID 19 pandemic happened. I had various tumultuous friendships and relationships. Along with precarious employment the rising cost of living, political turmoil, and housing crisis have so far prevented me from moving out to my own place. I take care of my aging parents and also have chronic health issues of my own. Taken togeth...
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