2025 So Far In The World of Pathogen

One of these days, we're all gonna die screaming... But until then, there are some good times and nouns to enjoy! It's been a quiet year for me musically. I've had my head down, attempting to write a new album (to be announced at some point soon-ish). I've been busy trying to grow Mad Rabbit Media, which is proving (like any good thing) so be an uphill climb. I've done some travelling and a lot of 9-5ing. The highlights:

HIP-HOP HAPPY HOUR

I, per usual, have not performed a lot this year. However, every Wednesday, Kevin Bessey hosts a night full of music and performances of many varieties and that includes some of us rappers and hip hoppers from 9p-12a. at Taverna Costera. It's an open mic, however 4-6 performers get 15 minute featured sets. It's not like I'm on top of the world in there... Not many people outside of a few close friends of the artists and the artists themselves are in there usually, but it is a place where a hip hop community exists in Las Vegas and its kind of hard to find that. I've made some cool connections with people and artists that are becoming friends and collaborators. Kevin invites me every once in a while and it's always a chance to try and do some songs I haven't done in a while or just practice in general. I am very mistake prone on stage. No matter my charisma, stage presence, or how well I cover/handle it... Those mistakes are going to happen. Hopefully they'll eventually happen less one of these days, but being able to perform somewhere pretty consistently is how I get better and have some fun with the music I've made!

Hyped Up Hip Hop Happy Hour was another awesome invite from Kevin (back in May) to get my first chance to perform on the rooftop at Taverna! It was something I've seen a lot of local bands do and do well and I've even seen my favorite artist (Sadistik) on that stage spitting bars, so it was a cool little milestone for me. The night was longer, with more acts, and a bit more, well, hype. One of my best shows, not as many mistakes, right in the pocket, a lot of energy... Was a great night and glad I got my first shot up there.

FILMMAKING

As my best friend and business partner and I build up Mad Rabbit Media, it's drawn me back to a medium I thought I was done with... Film. I graduated UVU with a degree in Digital Cinema back in 2018, but at that time it really was not for me. Working with video more, becoming more of a cinephile type of person, wanting/needing video to compliment my music, and working with Kaesen (who never stops learning, pushing, and improving) has all led me back to wanting to work on narrative films (short for now) and really try to be a filmmaker (and actor.) I completed a horror short (like, a micro short we're talking under 5 minutes total including titles and credits lol) that is based on a song I will be writing for my next album. It's a simple story and might not be that good, but I've finally made a film! I wrote, directed, and did all post production (all for better or for worse) and did it with a wonderful little team helping me and I think its a great step for me.

I did my first acting outside of my inner circle's projects (a background role in which my back is literally to the camera) and I got to star in The Dollheads new music video (that we [Mad Rabbit Media] produced completely and fully)! For a little more on filmmaking...

NEXT PATHOGEN ALBUM

As they say, "Big things coming!" I've been in one hell of a rut when it comes to writing and performing music. Just making those mistakes I mentioned on stage consistently and it's plaguing me in my personal space as well. I'm working on an album that will probably be 17 tracks (give or take) with some very fun and cool ideas for subject matters, narratives, references, and flows/structure. I'm about 7.5 songs deep right now and I've kind of been sitting at that 7 mark for... months. I started writing in January or February and initially I had some good moment, two of the coolest/my favorite songs I've ever written came out of that, but it's been really slow overall. I'm at a point where all need to be tweaked and re-written a bit so I can physically say the shit (lol FUCK) and I've been stuck in a holding pattern to try and remedy those issues. Plus, I've had writers block. I think what I've written is good, but I've been doing it in pieces (like couple bars at a time and I don't have/make time everyday for it unfortunately,) so it ain't easy being cheesy right now. It will come together... when it does. It will release sometime in 2026 (original goal was 2025, like, literally in the next month or so) so we will see.

In terms of the filmmaking with this, I have 4 (maybe 5) short films that I will be creating in tandem with some of the songs on the album. I'll have some live sessions and some lip sync videos of course. I think it's a little more unique, interesting, fun, and challenging to have separate narrative shorts based on the stories I'm telling in the songs as opposed to the narrative edited with performance. I'd like to make some films, baby!!! The horror short I mentioned before is one. The other two are going to be fan films technically of franchises I love, and one or two more are going to be original. The album itself is yet another concept album its the third in the Halloween Town series. There is an overarching narrative through most or all songs and it incorporates a lot of horror as well as touching on the multi-verse aspect I include in my musical identity and gimmicks. I think it's going to be fun and challenging, but I'm excited to really get into this process and learn/create.

The Dollheads, "Back To Rebellion" Tour

Technically... I completed my first tour. Big technicality because performed on solo act and joined Twist Off! for one song at another show. Still though... I toured the UK doing videography and music!!!! Twist Off! were invited to support The Dollheads on their tour as they made their way back to Blackpool for the incredible Rebellion Punk Fest where they opened the main stage, while Twist Off! made their first appearance there on the introductions stage! It was an incredible experience and one hope I never forget. I opened the show at The Black Prince in Northampton and it was one of my best shows, really The crowd was deep it was probably the biggest I've performed for and they were incredible! I think it was under the radar that I was opening. I got added to the show like a week before we left the U.S. and wasn't on any posters or anything, so I kind of got lucky that everyone was there for the local band who was supposed to open. The crowd was a little tepid, but I actually didn't make too many mistakes and they really started to warm up to the sound and energy I was bringing. I turned them when I hit Monsters Unleashed, they loved that shit, man! From there it was a party. Even though I only performed the cover of Break Stuff (Limp Bizkit) with Twist Off! at The Mew Cross Inn in London, that show was pretty electric! It was actually a separate show from The Dollheads tour, the boys managed to snag a hardcore show with Shutdown which was absolutely SICK!!! So yeah. GREAT time on tour! Vlog is up on Youtube (or conveniently linked here) so check out the great time we had out there!