My lockdown project was to learn how to produce music in Ableton. This was the first track I wrote with the DAW.

My 2010s indie influences are pretty clear. In fact, this file is called "Beach House Bullshit" on my computer. I programmed or played all the tracks, including the layers of tenor saxophone. It's ethereal, earnest, upbeat, and sad, reflecting a time of my life that was both happy and frightening.

The lyrics are deeply personal: after a period of compulsive partying and traveling, COVID forced me to stop everything and focus on my sobriety. With nowhere to go and nothing to do, I finally faced "the demons from my past I thought I'd outrun". The fact that I am creating and releasing music now is a testament to how far I've come.

Track personnel:

Colleen Welsch – Music/lyrics/vocals/production/mixing