Untitled Demo, 2014/2018. Two audio tracks, framed letters, ephemera. Dimensions variable.

“Untitled Demo” (originally recorded c. 2001) reactivates ephemera from childhood when I fantasized about becoming a pop star on MTV. When I was around ten years old, I taught myself how to use my brother's music software on our home computer to create demo recordings. With a hint of delusion, I sent typed letters and sharpie inscribed CDs to record labels like Virgin, Sony, and EMI. Characterized by unrelenting loops, rudimentary beats, and soft-spoken vocals, the songs sound like a cross between early industrial music and Kidz Bop. The playful immediacy of this gesture highlights the sharp contrasts between creative expression and the systems through which artists are threaded.