Health Update: Everything On Hold and Official Release of audio riot: demos + unfinished songs 2021
Alongside putting everything on hold while I recover, I'm officially releasing the audio riot: demos + unfinished songs 2021 (EP) a collection of raw, unmixed demos from the canceled 2021 sessions as both an update and a bridge for what's next.
I'm writing this Monday night because tomorrow morning, Tuesday, I'm going in for double bypass surgery. Yeah, you read that right. It's been a hell of a few weeks getting to this point, and honestly, I'm doing my best to hold it together through what feels like another major setback.
The Reality of Right Now
For those who've been following maskeda's journey, you know we've had our share of stops and starts. We've weathered long breaks, creative blocks, and life getting in the way more times than I care to count. Just when it seemed like we were ready to dive back in: really ready this time: this health situation stepped up and said "not so fast."
The timing couldn't feel worse. We had plans brewing, content ideas flowing, and that rare spark of creative energy that makes everything feel possible again. But here's the thing about life: it doesn't care about your timeline. It doesn't care about your momentum or your carefully laid plans. Sometimes it just forces you to stop everything and deal with what's in front of you.
What This Means for Everything
Let me be straight with you: some things are going to be delayed until the end of the year. Maybe longer, depending on how recovery goes. I wish I could give you exact dates or a detailed timeline, but I honestly don't know what the next few months are going to look like.
The media projects we were gearing up for? On hold. New content that was finally starting to take shape? Paused. Any collaborations or deadlines we were working toward? They'll have to wait.
This isn't what any of us wanted to hear, especially after the anticipation of getting back into a good creative rhythm. But it's where we are, and I'd rather be honest about it than make promises I can't keep or pretend everything's going to continue as planned.
The Frustration is Real
I won't sugarcoat this: it's frustrating as hell. There's something particularly brutal about getting your hopes up, feeling that creative energy building, and then having to put everything on ice again. It's the kind of setback that makes you question timing, luck, and whether the universe has it out for you.
For a while there, it really felt like we were turning a corner. Ideas were flowing, enthusiasm was building, and there was this sense that maskeda was ready to hit its stride again. The kind of momentum that feels precious because you know how rare it is and how easy it is to lose.
Now here I am, the night before surgery, trying to process the fact that all of that energy has to get channeled into something completely different: healing, recovery, and patience. None of which are particularly exciting topics for a media blog, but they're my reality right now.
What Recovery Looks Like (Or Might Look Like)
The truth is, I don't really know what recovery from double bypass surgery entails. I know it's not going to be quick, and I know it's going to require a level of patience that doesn't come naturally to me. When you're used to being creative, producing content, and staying engaged with your work, the idea of being sidelined for months is daunting.
I imagine there will be good days and bad days. Days when I feel optimistic about getting back to work, and days when even thinking about creative projects feels overwhelming. Days when the delay feels temporary and manageable, and days when it feels like everything is slipping away.
What I do know is that rushing back before I'm ready would be a mistake: for my health, for the quality of any work I'd produce, and for the sustainability of maskeda as a project. As much as I hate admitting it, sometimes the best thing you can do for your creative work is to step away from it completely.
The Support System
One thing that's been keeping me grounded through all of this is knowing there are people out there who understand what it's like when life derails your plans. Whether you're dealing with health issues, family emergencies, financial setbacks, or just the general chaos that life throws at everyone, there's something comforting about knowing you're not alone in having to pause everything and regroup.
To everyone who's been patient with maskeda's inconsistent schedule over the years, thank you. To those who've stuck around through the long quiet periods and the false starts, I appreciate you more than you know. And to anyone who's ever had to put their creative work on hold for reasons beyond their control: I see you, and I get it.
This isn't the kind of support I expected to need, but it's the support that matters most when you're facing something like this. Not the kind that demands updates or timelines, but the kind that simply says "take care of yourself first, everything else can wait."
What Comes After
I don't want to make grand predictions about what maskeda will look like when I'm back to full capacity. Experience has taught me that making promises about creative timelines is usually a mistake, especially when you're dealing with health uncertainties.
What I can say is that this experience: as unwelcome as it is: will probably change how I approach the work when I do return. Maybe it'll bring a different perspective to the content we create. Maybe it'll make me more intentional about how I spend creative energy. Maybe it'll just make me grateful to be able to do the work at all.
There's also a part of me that wonders if this forced break might ultimately be beneficial in ways I can't see right now. Sometimes stepping away from something you care about gives you clarity about what really matters and what doesn't. Sometimes it helps you separate the essential from the merely urgent.
But honestly, right now I'm not looking for silver linings or trying to turn this into a positive growth experience. Right now I'm just trying to get through it and come out the other side healthy enough to pick up where we left off.
The Practical Stuff
For those wondering about specific projects or commitments, I'll be reaching out individually to address anything that needs immediate attention. For general maskeda content and updates, things will be quiet for a while. I'm not going to try to maintain a posting schedule or keep up with regular communication while I'm recovering.
When I do start sharing updates again, they'll probably be brief and focused on recovery progress rather than creative projects. I don't expect that content to be particularly engaging or inspiring: it'll just be honest updates about where things stand.
If you're subscribed to any maskeda channels or notifications, you might not hear from us for a while. That's normal and expected. We're not going anywhere permanently, we're just taking the time that's needed.
Signing Off
So that's where we are. Tuesday morning I'll be in surgery, and then begins what I'm sure will be a longer and more challenging recovery process than I'm prepared for. Everything creative is on pause, and I'm doing my best to be okay with that even though it goes against every instinct I have.
Thanks for reading this, for understanding, and for whatever patience you can offer while we navigate this completely unplanned detour. I'll be back when I'm back, and maskeda will resume when it resumes. Until then, take care of yourselves.
maskeda
audio riot: demos + unfinished songs 2021 - Out this week!
Raw, unmixed demos from the canceled 2021 sessions—released as-is.
Listen/Support: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/maskeda/audio-riot-demos--unfinished-songs-2021-2
