Arend (they) 🏳️‍⚧️🍉

I make chill, cozy music to relieve world-weariness.

I also write about art, culture, spirituality, and politics.

I’m genderqueer, autistic, and disabled; part anchorite, part activist, middling at both; Dutch-Surinamese-Sephardi-Okie; living on Tongva land (so-called Los Angeles); practicing dismantling white supremacy.

I live day-by-day as a rester, music producer, educator, and spouse of @jgerhardtmusic.

Public Key

npub1rqc6y7rd84dv3l082tc0efnr9gpttjf4fgcnj3paj2rchxzymw9srkqea9

NIP-05 Address

arendleejessurun@musicians-today.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqspsvdz0pkn6kkglhn49u8u5e3j5q44ey655vfegs7e9putnpzdhzcnal84x

Author Public Key

npub1rqc6y7rd84dv3l082tc0efnr9gpttjf4fgcnj3paj2rchxzymw9srkqea9

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Last Notes

2025-04-12 20:58:18

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@nprofile…fn2v "Turn it up" is a compliment of the highest order. :)

2025-04-12 00:56:09

What the nicest thing someone ever said to you about your #music?
I wanna hear how people have gassed you up. :)
#songwriting #MusicProduction #musicians

2025-04-11 21:07:48

Enshidious:
adj.
Intending do to harm, as borne out by #enshittification.
(Of a #tech company) slowly becoming more and more evil.

2025-04-10 21:40:56

Today I looked at a rug and reveled in the human urge to make cool little shapes and patterns.
I think that's #3GoodThings. Rugs, humans, and patterns.
#spirituality

2025-04-10 20:06:35

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@nprofile…fn2v Haha you bet. Boring is almost the point of meditation. ;)

2025-04-10 02:56:16

Y'all, these free clones of classic plugins are fantastic. There's a Phoenix, an Inflator, an L2 and more, all in JSFX format. I had to do a little write-up about 'em.
https://arendleejessurun.com/a-bunch-of-free-plugin-clones-for-reaper-and-beyond/
#MusicProduction #Reaper #LinuxAudio

2025-04-09 23:14:28

#3GoodThings about yesterday:
I did some meditation, even though it was boring.
I played and sang a song with my partner.
I had fun playing with Casper and laughing at his antics.

2025-04-08 05:53:12

I gotta make recording easier for myself, especially with my spoons these days. Most days #fibro wears me out before I can get started.
As much as I love capturing guitar and voice at once, I think I gotta start doing more overdubbing of the two separately, and I'm struggling against the shame of doing so as a folkie. I'm sure I'll get over it.
Fellow #DisabledMusicians, please drop your tips for music-making.
#disabled #DisabledMusician #DisabledArtist

2025-04-05 00:27:17

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@nprofile…fn2v Nah, I was too depressed to want to punch anybody lmao. But you're right, it was certainly an offense.

2025-04-04 19:57:41

I thank God I escaped evangelicalism before I became disabled. I can't imagine how much toxic theology I would have received from pastors and self-proclaimed faith healers who would over-spiritualize physical health. "Sometimes God doesn't heal someone until they repent," is what one such person told me in college when I became depressed.

2025-04-02 07:45:55

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@nprofile…0nz2 Nice!! Was never able to get Sonible working.

2025-03-30 18:14:17

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@nprofile…fn2v I hear that lol. Would love to hear how it works for you.

2025-03-30 03:40:12

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@nprofile…fn2v I'm looking for something similar. Trying out Noptin rn, as recommended by this vid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5ZazetSuiQ

2025-03-30 00:14:25

I need a simpler newsletter solution for #Wordpress. I've been using The Newsletter Plugin, but I don't like it much.
I'd like something more like Substack or Ghost, wherein the newsletter is also a post. Any recommendations?
(Was gonna try Ghost, but I can't install it on my web host, sadly.)

2025-03-29 03:02:32

Pinko Pony Club
#RadicalizeASong

2025-03-28 22:23:02

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@nprofile…vzzc I hear those old Radio Shack mics are real fun!
@nprofile…nze2 Well said. And almost everyone knows, or at least can quickly learn, what an SM57 should sound like.

2025-03-28 22:09:33

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@nprofile…vzzc Oh yeah, the old beard-bowtie dilemma...

2025-03-28 21:31:46

New profile picture. Still me, if you also have that thing where you don't recognize a follow anymore once they change their pfp lol.

2025-03-28 18:35:42

Feeling really grateful for fedi. You all make me feel like anything is possible, like we can and will indeed build better futures.
#politics #technology

2025-03-27 22:41:57

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@nprofile…0nz2 "I think I know just what finger to use." Clever lyric, great punchline. :) Wonderful song!

2025-03-27 22:36:59

Apparently today is #MusiciansDay? That's cool.
If you'd like an #introduction to my music, here's my most popular song. :)
I tend toward retro-tinged #folkMusic, but my tastes are eclectic, and I hope it shows. Themes of #MentalHealth, #politics, and #spirituality come up often in my songs.
I love connecting with other #queer, #trans, #disabled, and otherwise kind folks here, so please reach out!
https://arendleejessurun.bandcamp.com/album/seeking-a-friend-in-la-single
#DisabledArtist #TransMusician #QueerMusic #music #songwriting

2025-03-26 19:44:22

There were at least #3GoodThings and more about my yesterday.
I noticed the tannins in my green Ceylon tea.
My stretches felt really good.
I played some Dorfromantik.
I recorded an instrumental guitar piece.
I enjoyed being of service to my partner by proof-reading her essay.
My cat Casper is a good emotional support animal for checking in on me.

2025-03-25 19:21:56

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@nprofile…fn2v Oof. On one of my only live sound gigs, I learned the hard way a presence boost does not cooperate with wedges lol.
That makes sense. To me, they're entirely different mics: the 58 and Beta 58.

2025-03-25 02:42:23

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@nprofile…vzzc "The One I Love" is truly one for the canon. I remember how that song arrested me the first time I heard it.

2025-03-25 02:14:31

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@nprofile…fn2v I don't know much about the 87! I'll have to look into that one.
Audio engineers and fiery arguments, you say? No, never. 🙃

2025-03-23 06:59:01

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@nprofile…vzzc I have a hard time placing who I'm reminded of when I hear your singing. My partner mentioned Jim Morrison.

2025-03-23 06:55:48

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@nprofile…0nz2 What was this piece of gear that accompanied your guitar?

2025-03-19 19:36:36

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@nprofile…fn2v Ahh they really don't give a shit lmao. My little guy is in his kitten exploring phase, and I guess the tops of the panels beckoned to be summited. Gonna take him on more walks to let him express this in a way that doesn't make me groan haha.

2025-03-19 18:51:09

My cat has successfully knocked down all acoustic panels of a certain make from the walls of the studio.

2025-03-16 23:49:56

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@nprofile…j2jh What an enjoyable read. Congrats on one year! I come from another twelve step program, and the values I gained from it have led me to find political answers in anarchism.

2025-03-11 22:27:50

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@nprofile…fn2v That's brilliant hahaha.

2025-03-11 22:04:34

Why do doctor's offices play Judge Judy in the waiting room? This is not helping my anxiety lmao.

2025-03-09 18:12:24

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@nprofile…fn2v Oh yes, many decisions and discernments to be made. They are so intentional, cats.

2025-03-08 03:19:18

My biggest #transJoy / #queerJoy of the week has been marrying my love, @nprofile…rh0w. Not only that, but we managed to pull off such a large event and convince others to wear a mask to make it COVID-safer for us and everyone.
#CovidIsNotOver #disabilityPride
https://s3.us-east-005.backblazeb2.com/musicianstoday/media_attachments/files/114/124/622/202/416/354/original/a7908e6378d497c2.jpg

2025-03-07 22:17:35

"The white fathers told us, I think therefore I am; and the black mothers in each of us—the poet—whispers in our dreams, I feel therefore I can be free." —Audre Lorde
#womanism #BlackHistory #liberation #antifa #philosophy

2025-02-23 00:13:07

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@nprofile…fn2v Yeah I think you're right. Maybe in both cases it's because the true ones practice.

2025-02-22 21:33:28

What is a false teacher but someone who can't teach? Not for lack of ability of course, but for lack of goodness. (Some of my best teachers have been disabled.) Anybody can try to be good, but some don't try.
They say, those who cannot do, teach. But I say those who cannot teach, shouldn't. Down with false teachers.

2025-02-17 23:00:58

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@nprofile…fn2v Lmao, we sure do. You Brits say it better than we Americans though.

2025-02-17 19:42:09

Stop calling people "stupid." Those who fall for far-right extremism aren't stupid. They are ignorant. And there's a clear difference. The first word is an ableist epithet. The second is a right judgment.
If you can manage it, have patience with people's ignorance because all of us are ignorant of many things. Otherwise, detach with love, and quit using ableist language to express your anger about the rise of neo-Nazism.
#antifa #politics #uspol #DisabilityJustice

2025-02-16 20:29:40

Long ago, when I used Twitter, I never tried lists. And Tumblr I don't think ever had the feature. I'm using them now on #mastodon to make lists for vibes, lulz, pol, etc. The only thing I wish I could do is add certain hashtags I'm following to a list. Or have some way of quickly jumping to a fav hashtag to peruse. Maybe I'll just have to be content with making a pinned post with all my fav hashtags then. Do you have a way of perusing your fav hashtags?
#mastodonquestion #mastodontips

2025-02-13 09:08:01

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@nprofile…gqlq I'll check it out! Cheers!

2025-02-12 22:03:01

Does anyone have any good album recommendations on the topic of family dysfunction? I'm really going through it with my folks right now and could use a soundtrack for my feels. 🥲 Also open to other media, like movies, games, etc.
Please give this a boost or point me to a good hashtag, if you would.
#music

2025-02-10 03:50:56

#Instagram and big #tech writ large are societies of control, a concept developed by Gilles Deleuze in the '90s. A society of control, as opposed to a disciplinary society, does not need to use punishment as a primary means of controlling the populace. We are encouraged to use these media, told we are "free" to do so, but in using them, we subject ourselves to their control as they collect data on us to sell to corporations and governments.
#technofeudalism #enshittification #anticapitalism

2025-01-21 00:24:44

@dj@ti.parcero.casa You and I know what you meant with your clever comment. Cope. And while you're at it, gain some emotional intelligence.

2025-01-20 21:39:22

Wishing all anti-racists a very righteously indignant MLK Jr. Day.
Long live his vision of Black liberation from white supremacy.
#antiracism #mlk #mlkday #antifascism

2025-01-18 21:30:55

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@nprofile…5fn0 Biden's more like a genocidal depressive. ;) Trump is perhaps a genocidal manic pixie dream girl, as evidenced by all the incels thirsting after him.

2025-01-16 23:22:11

I shared a bit already about my thoughts on Suno AI and their CEO's nonsense take, but I wanted to write more about #AI, #music, #capitalism, and #disability.
"Music composition is a kind of puzzle game, and performance is a kind of exercise. If you have an AI solve the puzzle for you or run a mile for you, you’ve missed the point."
https://arendleejessurun.com/ai-music-cannot-replace-the-joy-of-making-music/
#MusicProduction #creativetoots

2025-01-16 07:35:04

"When #tech people talk about 'democratizing' something, like driving directions or online banking, what they really mean is access. Access is fine, but it's just access. It's a drive-through window, not a door. Access is only part of what democracy has always entailed—alongside real ownership, governance, and accountability. Democracy is a process, not a product." —Nathan Schneider, Everything for Everyone
#politics

2025-01-15 18:56:59

I could use a pinned #introduction post.
I'm Arend!
I use the words #nonbinary, #trans, and #genderqueer more or less interchangeably to describe myself.
I'm #actuallyautistic (IYKYK we mean "actually" as in self-identifying).
I'm a professional #musician disabled by #longcovid / #fibromyalgia.
I'm still some kinda universalist #christian despite abusers' and homophobes' best efforts.
My politics most closely align with #anarchism. I'm for a #freepalestine, #landback, and #decolonization.

2025-01-14 05:12:10

The Suno #AI CEO actually thinks people don't enjoy making #music lmao. "It’s not really enjoyable to make music now," he said. "It takes a lot of time, it takes a lot of practice, you need to get really good at an instrument or really good at a piece of production software."
What he's describing and misidentifying is the challenge of making music. You make music because you enjoy the process. You become better because you enjoy the challenge.
https://futurism.com/suno-ai-ceo-making-music
#MusicProduction

2025-01-11 22:53:28

A friend of mine has organized a fundraiser for his mother, who has lost her home in the #eatonfire. He writes, "My childhood home is gone. Completely and totally. All the rare wood I had saved for a career in instrument making, the workbench I bought. All the plans and hopes and dreams and sorrows and family memories. All gone. I'm helping my mom rebuild and we could really use your help however you're able."
https://fundrazr.com/a2Upuf?ref=ab_32I5uRWowqb32I5uRWowqb
@nprofile…axd7
#mutualaid #MutualAidRequest #lafire

2025-01-09 15:35:57

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@nprofile…fn2v I'm right with you there! I know a sheister when I see one.

2025-01-09 00:25:11

I could count on one finger the number of posts I seen from popular leftist IG pages that ever had anything critical to say about #Meta prior to Zuck's most recent mask-off moment.

2025-01-08 21:29:08

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@nprofile…5fn0 Won't someone PLEASE think of the a-listers?!

2025-01-05 18:48:35

Inside you are two wolves. One hates being perceived uwu. The other is dressed to the nines in drag. You're #enby. There are more than two wolves. This meme format is dead. Always has been.
#trans #transjoy #nonbinary #enbyjoy #queer #queerjoy

2025-01-05 03:29:50

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@nprofile…c7cc @nprofile…l25h Yes, and we need something better than Bandcamp soon, what with the way the company has treated its Bandcamp United employees.

2025-01-01 21:42:01

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@nprofile…fn2v Thank you kindly! <3 Normally I can manage this kind of pain, but I'm also recovering from a cold. :/

2025-01-01 21:17:20

I've had an idea I've been kicking around about doing a #podcast #interview series with #diy, #indie, #folk, #electronica and #punk #musicians living in #LA on the creative process for those without a big label budget. If that's something that you think you'd like to talk about, hit me up. Please give this a boost if you'd like to help me find others who might be interested.
#creativetoots #music #musician #IndieMusic #DIYMusicChat

2025-01-01 19:16:23

Today's #spooniecheckin: I feel hungover, but I didn't even drink last night.
@nprofile…4v5l
#fibromyalgia #LongCovid #chronicillness #spoonie

2024-12-30 01:54:02

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@nprofile…fn2v That's really neat! I can't much say the same, but I have noticed in later years some earlier influences peeking through that I didn't notice before.

2024-12-29 23:13:45

Who were the artists and what were the songs that so touched you, they made you think you can do that too? These are your artistic inspirations. Make a playlist. Write a reflection about each one.
#creativetoots #music #songwriting #musicproduction #journalprompt

2024-12-20 03:28:49

It seems to me folks go through three stages of skepticism toward #capitalism: anti-consumerism, anti-commercialism, and finally anti-capitalism.

2024-12-11 22:06:47

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@nprofile…l25h @nprofile…nuew @nprofile…lvsc @nprofile…aavv Sounds like something I'd be into!