Dear Reader,

This is my first update since April because I’ve been focused on writing my first novel—a dystopian sci fi thriller—and settling into a new life in Portugal after living in NYC for 10 years.

When Mamdani won, my brother told me I missed “peak NYC.” True, I agreed. All I got was “Peak Grift.” Still, I was happy to celebrate from afar.

I do miss NYC, mainly the people, especially friends. But after spending ~8 years creatively focused and immersed in music and club culture, I needed to extract myself from the craziness and fun of Brooklyn if I was ever going to take writing seriously and finish this novel, which I know I am meant to do.

After 6 months, I’m proud to share that I finished Draft 1 and am deep into Draft 2 rewrites. The book keeps getting better, and I believe in it more than ever. I look forward to sharing more updates/insights on writing soon.

Another reason for my break from Newsletter updates was because I’ve started posting regularly on TikTok, mostly about writing and books, but also movies, politics, travel, and more general advice sprinkled in. I’ve finally gotten comfortable recording and posting quick videos, and I’m glad to see that they seem to be resonating with people, especially other writers.

I look forward to writing more about writing and transcribing/expanding some of these videos into future newsletter posts too, so you won’t miss out if you aren’t on TikTok.

Along with writing, I also fell back in love with reading. I read 23 books in 2025 (up from maybe 2/year) I’m going to include book and media recommendations at the bottom of every Newsletter, so keep scrolling for those!

It’s ironic and bittersweet that the year I finally got more recognition from labels and DJs was also the year I stepped back from pursuing music to focus on writing, but that’s okay. All forms of creativity are like a muscle—you can get rusty after extended breaks, but it is also like riding a bicycle; once you develop the skills, they never really leave you, and I’m sure that when I decide to polish and release more demos or start a new EP/Album, I will have more life experience and inspiration that will make it even richer and more refined.

A few days before leaving NYC, my friends at Le Petit Box kindly had me spin a final DJ mix. I included a bunch of originals, edits, and IDs, and you can stream it on YouTube:

I’m proud of the music I released in 2025. It’s a sign of my growth as an artist and producer, and I’m grateful to Tabula Rasa & Gravitas for hearing its quality and potential even though it doesn’t fit cleanly into any hot trends.

Here are my releases from 2025, in case you missed them or want to relisten:

I plan to follow up this music-focused recap with a newsletter post about the books I read in 2025, so stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, here’s a book recommendation / review about a recent read - add me on Goodreads to keep up with what I’m reading!

I highly recommend Neuromancer to fans of dystopian sci-fi and anyone curious about the origin of cyberpunk and the inspiration for The Matrix films - and as someone writing a dystopian sci-fi novel myself, it was absolutely a must-read!

Neuromancer is a fun, pulpy heist/thriller that follows Case, a down-and-out hacker reduced to small-time hustles in the seedy, neon underbelly of Chiba, Japan. He gets recruited, rehabilitated, and coerced into joining a motley crew on a mission to free a rogue AI from a powerful family corporation who use cloning and cryogenics to extend their lifespans.

"The Sprawl" of Neuromancer is a gritty, nihilistic, violent dystopia, controlled by corporations and crime syndicates and full of crime and vice, ninjas with cyborg body-mods, and good-ole hacker "cowboys" who don't know when to quit.

The writing is blunt, visceral, occasionally brilliant and beautiful, and the story incorporates thought-provoking themes that have since become sci-fi staples, leaving it up to the reader to derive meaning in the madness of this not-too-distant future...

The plot at times gets a bit meandering and convoluted, and there are some obvious missed opportunities, e.g. the action scenes are a bit lacking (Molly is a total badass yet we barely see her fight!). However, Neuromancer makes up for its shortcomings with engaging world building, characters, and the persistent "what the hell is gonna happen next" effect. It’s a fun read, I would recommend it, but look - you probably already know if this book is for you.

The book's prescience is part of its value; it's a “Torment Nexus” classic (IYKYK). In one chapter, Case is trapped in a part of the matrix that is nearly indistinguishable from reality, where he reunites with someone who died in the real world - It’s sad and disturbing, and some of the most beautiful writing in the book. Now, in real life, there are tech companies rushing to create super-AI, trying to convince us to spend more time in "the metaverse,” and others selling chatbot imitations of dead relatives.

The Afterward by Jack Womack is also brilliant and heartfelt, offering a friend and fellow writer's insight into Gibson’s childhood influences and his enduring impact on mainstream culture. Don't skip it.

Sublime Port is offering visionary design, brand development, UI/UX, animation, and more to new companies building a better future. Don't hesitate to get in touch via the contact button on our page or website to help your project or business stand out in 2025! Let's scheme 🔥🐈‍⬛

Thanks for reading! You’ll hear from me again soon(er than last time).

-Brendan