About Me
I've always needed to put things into boxes. Categorize, sort, and label; it scratches a part of my brain that never rests. For a long time, I thought it was best to suppress my intrusive thoughts, which turns out, is the literal worst thing you can do for them. I tried to handle the thoughts in my mind, which in turn, became a dark place to be. But through it all, my remedies remained the same: bugs and beats. Nothing a bug walk and a beautiful album could not fix. They may have been temporary escapes, but they were escapes that helped nonetheless.
I am happy to say that I've been getting treatment and been working hard to embrace my mind. Somewhere along the way I realised that the two things I love most (insects and music) both reward that kind of obsessive sorting. Every insect order has traits. Every genre has a lineage. (I know I am anthropomorphizing, I may also contradict myself and make other mistakes. I accept this part of me for now).
This site is what happens when you let that instinct run wild. Building the framework that connects entomology and music has turned something I used to manage quietly into something that brings me a lot of joy, and so I wanted to share it, in case it brings someone else a little joy too.
My invertebrate work started in 2021, and it's grown a lot since. It began with sampling EPT as bioindicators of stream health. I would later return to invert work when I was tasked with building reference libraries in Aotearoa for obscure, endemic species. From there it branched into food web systems in the neotropics.
Conservation is the thread running through all of it, and the more time I spend with invertebrates, the more I am convinced that they're chronically underrated.
I have a rock 'n' roll dad who was a drummer, so he was rightfully intense about his music when I was growing up. He passed down both good taste and a steady stream of unsolicited opinions. What can I say, I love stating my opinion as a matter of fact.
For a few years now I've listened to an album a day, which has pushed me into genres I never would have found on my own. I feel like I only scratched the surface and I'm excited to keep going.
I love being on stage. I love being given a microphone, a spotlight, or even just a moment of undivided attention. If recognition were a renewable resource, I would have solved our energy crisis.
Consider this entire website a very elaborate, very public cry for applause, wrapped in a love letter to bugs and albums.
I am eternally grateful for my life partner, Campbellito, who supports me in everything I do.
My mom, who taught me dancing, family, and her culture. Peru is where I first fell in love with La Pachamama and discovered my destiny to protect the natural world.
Jane Goodall, who opened the door for women in science to have a voice.
My first teacher, Ms. Carnelos, who fostered this passion in me.
My best girls Bronte and Jade, who make me feel like everything is gonna be ok.
Sarah, the larval queen who brought me on a crazy adventure once in the tropics.
Jane, who saw a spark in me when I was harassing people for work in Aotearoa and was like... let me help this desperate girl out.
Rosemary, the first fieldwork soulmate I ever had.
Nima, for the website idea, who heard my crazy framework and helped me map it out.
Jeff Buckley for covering the song I Know It's Over, which I would later discover accidentally on LimeWire, thereby altering my life forever.
And anyone ever probably.
This site is my oscar and that was my speech.