Burnt Out Millennial (mix) is Live!

I'm so excited!  My album, Burnt Out Millennial (mix), is officially live!

Sample all 17 tracks and connect to the major platforms:  Spotify & Apple Music / iTunes

• https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/aboutstephanie/burnt-out-millennial-mix?ref=release

YouTube Music is coming soon.  Keep tracking my page.  https://www.youtube.com/@AboutStephanie

Quick Synopsis:  This is the mix CD we'd burn today if that's what we did. Written for millennials navigating adulthood in a world that changed, this album moves through exhaustion, anger, humor, nostalgia, and small, stubborn hope.

Seventeen tracks. Different voices. Different styles.
Pop, rap, ballads, country, grunge, Latin, K-pop — all tied together by the same chapter of life.

For anyone who did what they were told… and is now adapting, recalibrating, and sometimes white-knuckling it anyway.

Why it matters:  There's a quiet understanding that as you age, the music of the day is no longer for or about you.  Maybe that was okay in generations past, but today's Gen X & Millennial generations need an outlet that both understands them and caters to them.  Our music was varied, angry, happy, wistful, hopeful, and frustrated.  And our music from the 90s and 2000s is still good, but we want songs that are today-relevant.  I worked really hard to make that possible.

I genuinely hope you find at least one track to love.  Share which one that is and why!  Happy listening!

LMOH: Creativity

I had some time off at the end of last year, and during it something in my brain switched on.  I've always been creative, but I'd been creative in long projects - novels, kids books, etc.  A friend over the holidays told me about Suno, an AI music app, and while I'm not the biggest proponent of AI (I think it has LOTs of good application and possibilities - like robot vacuums and mops - I don't think people are taking or appreciating the level of risk mitigation and oversight it should be coming with), I don't have the voice or musical instrument capabilities to create songs.  However, I AM a writer.  And lyrics and prompting the general tone of the song I can do.

And I have.  And it's SO fun.

What I will say is that creativity doesn't have a timeline.  I can't say "I'm going to be creative from 7-8pm or 12-1pm or 8-9am".  At least mine doesn't.  Maybe some of you have creativity switches that you can flip on and be focused for a set timeframe, but I do not.  I have found that most of my lyric writing is either prompted after I've heard or thought of the musical inspiration, or after 9pm, when I'm in bed trying to sleep (which I also can't fault because now instead of my brain being awake with anxiety while I'm trying to sleep, it's working out song lyrics...much less anxiety producing).

So if you want to be creative, first start by rewarding your creativity when it turns on, whatever time that may be!  If you love on it, it will love you back.  And creativity is good for the mind and soul.

Song & AboutStephanie.com

As you know I love writing.  You may also know that I love singing, even though I know my singing voice has limitations.  That said, I have started voice lessons again to make what voice I do have better.  It's been fun.

So, when a friend of mine told me about Suno, an app that uses AI to make music, I was intrigued.  I may not be the singer that you want to hear on the radio, but I have some song ideas in my head.  Figured if I could get the lyrics and an outline of what I wanted into the AI engine, maybe it would turn out what I had envisioned.

And, sure enough, it's been pretty fun!  I have created three songs so far:  Send Me a Christmas Card, Ending, and Love My Dog.

They're on Spotify, iHeartRadio, and YouTube Music for your enjoyment (and downloading!).  I'm hoping to keep adding to the list this year!  I'm sure I don't make use of all the features of Suno, though I have tried a number of them and was only so-so impressed.  But for what I have used it for, I have really enjoyed it!

You can also find links to them on my new website:  www.aboutstephanie.com where I've consolidated all my published works and consulting / strategy offerings.

Excited to have you enjoying more of my creative works!