The world always looks so beautiful from a bit of distance.
When I lived in Manhattan, I always loved crossing the Hudson River and looking back to the island I called home. The adrenaline-inducing city full of cacophony of competition and pressure looked like a sparkling treasure box from the other side of the river.
The year 2025 has already been dizzying: LA wildfires, TikTok ban, the flurry of executive orders from the new Trump administration…In the meanwhile, I am away from home in Las Vegas in the middle of my Writing Downtown Residency for the memoir I have been working on since 2018. I wish to share my understanding, based on my musicological research and my firsthand experience in the industry, that explains some of the deep-rooted systemic racism, misogyny and division in today’s world. A series of serendipities led me to be granted this 3-week residency in a luxurious apartment to dedicate myself in complete solitude to work on this book.
I arrived here, not exactly knowing what to expect, or how I can use this gift to improve my book. It turned out to be the most consistent state of flow I have ever experienced in my life. I woke up with new revelations almost every day: forgotten memories, the missing link, details that tie disparate anecdotes together. I wrote and wrote until I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Sometimes, I forgot where I was, so immersed in writing – I would look up from the computer and feel confused for a split second before remembering that I was in Las Vegas. I have written four additional chapters since I got here, and expanded many of the existing chapters. Even more importantly, my book now has so much more clarity and cohesion, making my points more logically with more authenticity. In short, the residency transformed my book, and probably me.
I have a vague sense of what is happening by checking the group chat a few times a day. My friends are worried about the funding for their research. My colleagues are angry. I have acquaintances in tears. I do feel guilty for being away from all of this, but at the same time I am doing what I believe is important and helpful in the long run to the best of my ability right now.
Just as the world can be beautiful with a bit of distance, a bit of time can help us clarify our visions, allowing us to see the most impactful way to deal with things being thrown at us.