LexFeathers @Waxlimbs@mastodon.art

I believe it's important to acknowledge your achievements, especially when it feels like you're in a rut.
Going to compile a thread of things I managed to do and ways I grew in 2020. 🧵⤵️

We just released our first single of 2021! It's called Briar, it's winding and serpentine, and a whole lot of fun. Give it a spin, and it you like it, sharing helps more than anything <3

https://waxlimbs.bandcamp.com/track/briar

#mastomusic #music

All the Waxlimbs songs start with something simple, usually a guitar or bass progression. Here's something I came up with a couple nights ago that I feel good about.

#mastomusic

Veering dangerously close to everyone thinking that chainmaille is my *thing* 😅

I have some music content incoming!

As part of my exploration of chainmaille creation this year, I got my shop logo made into a stamp! It's hardened tool steel~ so cool to have a monogram like this!

#mastoart #maille

Since people really seem to like my maille work, here's a project I've been mulling over for a while. Aim is to have a shoulder-length opera glove when done! This is an older photo, I've since cleaned up the scale work and have the chain work just past my elbow.

Overall, last year was terrible. I am proud of myself though, for finding positive moments and giving myself the opportunity to learn new things while growing as an artist and in my understanding of myself.

I hope 2021 is better for everyone, and that you're also proud of yourself ♥

/🧵

And lastly, a skill that makes me so happy to have been learning is makeup! It's hard but there's a world of knowledge out these and it's yknow, really affirming.

Another skill I wanted to pick up for ages, but didn't find time for until quarantine hit was making latex clothing. I hate sewing and love the aesthetic, so I set about making some simple pieces with this really cool material.

To wrap up the music focus, I really started to involve myself in client work as a composer for games! Most of my projects are currently unannounced, but Fire Tonight is public knowledge and will be releasing in early 2021! This kind of work has been a big departure from my comfort zone, but it's exhilarating all the same.

https://gameaudio.ca/portfolio/fire-tonight/

Now I have to backtrack a bit because I forgot about a solo song I released just as the pandemic was beginning in Canada. The Veil is more electronic and low-energy than the Waxlimbs stuff, but I feel like it captured something about how things felt to me, at the time.

https://feyla.bandcamp.com/track/the-veil

After Watcher was 'It Speaks,' which was a hell of a struggle to complete. Right up until the last second, we weren't sure if it would make the cut. Fortunately, everyone came together like a goddamn Voltron and we figured it out. I love this song in all its weirdness now.

https://waxlimbs.bandcamp.com/track/it-speaks

Cover art by Julian Danyliw-Wilson

Then came 'Watcher,' which is the song I might be the most proud of writing, ever. I really feel like I got to a good place with the sound and the lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Atv63CvUs

Cover art by Emma Mochii

Following Witnessing was a song called Dead In The Water, which we were fortunate enough to make a music video for before Ontario's COVID case numbers skyrocketed.
I feel like this is one of the best distillations of what my band's live aesthetic is to date. We miss playing shows a lot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Hd4MBF7x8

My band Waxlimbs released our second single of 2020 called Witnessing, which marked a sea change for our sound.
Very proud of this song, although I want to revisit the mix down the line.
https://waxlimbs.bandcamp.com/track/witnessing

Cover artwork by Saffron Aurora

The next big moment this past year was less tangible but really important to me. I came out to some close friends and a few others as non binary. Turns out spending a lot of time with yourself in quarantine can (in some cases) be good for gender exploration.

The next thing I did was start learning to make scalemaille and chainmaille. I started by making my first set, and from there got better and more creative with simple designs. I'm very proud of this skill now.