Question!

"If you value privacy and autonomy so much, why bother to choose to showcase your art, music, thoughts, etc. to the public? Part of being a public figure is understanding that you essentially give up your privacy the minute you choose to deal with the public."

That's the question we want to answer today. It has piqued our interest and sparked discussions among us, as someone reached out to us through our communications channels previously, seeking clarity on this very topic. Initially, we found ourselves grappling with how to respond, as the complexity of the question left us pondering various angles and perspectives. However, after careful consideration and research, we have gathered the insights and information necessary to provide a comprehensive answer.

The reason we are private yet public is because we believe that art (and music) has the power to inspire, provoke thought, and evoke emotions in others, even if some people aren't immediately affected or inspired. Therefore, by showcasing our creations we can influence and resonate with many audiences. It's not about seeking attention or validation from others or conforming to any external expectations, societal or otherwise; rather, it is about influencing others in a more passive yet effective manner. And yes, to some extent, there may be a loss of privacy. However, we have managed to separate our activities, information, or identities in such a way that there is no connection or traceable link to our actual identities in the real world, so this isn't a problem for us.

Everything is built around some level of interdependence and cooperation, and we recognise this. However, we aspire to prove to ourselves that we can be successful on our own terms. No having to manage multiple teams and departments, no networking with "the right people we know", no tedious and costly self promotion other than maybe word of mouth marketing. Sure, we recognise that there may be instances where we need to rely on trusted third parties to assist us in specific areas like file storage. This is not a contradiction to our philosophy; rather, it is a pragmatic acknowledgment of the complexities of it all. But maybe we don't need to have to rely on who interacts with us or who finances us just to build some kind of online presence. Maybe we want to do it all on our own, without any kind of connection or collaboration with others. Maybe we don't want to be beholden to or influenced by the demands or preferences of any external parties of any kind.

This does not mean we don't value your contributions to help us. We know that every contribution, whether financial or otherwise, plays a vital role in supporting our work, and we are truly grateful for the generosity of those who choose to support us. However, our wish is to create a space where we can express ourselves freely, explore our ideas, and engage with our audience on our own terms. We want to foster a community that thrives on genuine interaction rather than transactional relationships. By prioritising our autonomy, we aim to cultivate a more authentic connection with our audience, one that is rooted in shared values and mutual respect.

Our approach may seem difficult to pull off, especially in an age where prior experience, social media and even aspects of your real life identity are often viewed as prerequisites for success. However, we are redefining what success means for us. It is not about how many followers we have on social media or how many people comment on our work. It is about the fulfillment we derive from our work and the impact we have on our community. By focusing on our own terms, we can create a more sustainable and meaningful definition of success that aligns with our values.

Does this help explain everything now? Comment if you have any related questions!