ALTERNATE UNIVERSE is an album I wrote in early 2024 in response to the way men have treated me as a receptacle throughout my life. That experience is at its core, but the album also explores lust from two conflicting perspectives: one that rejects hookup culture and one that constantly craves it - imagining myself in both roles, in an alternate universe. A piece that embodies this contrast is Interdimensional Urges, which reflects on the decline of domesticity in a relationship from both sides.

The title, ALTERNATE UNIVERSE, comes from the piece of the same name, which was inspired by a short-lived, fling-like relationship I wished had evolved into something more. That longing, that desire for an alternate outcome, shaped the album’s concept: taking real situations from my own experience and playing them out through different characters - sometimes hinting at change, sometimes rewriting the ending entirely.

This album was pre-poetic Rebel, but still written during a phase of poetic curiosity. The pieces are more song-like than poem-like, making them more accessible while still serving the album’s purpose - something deeply personal yet open for others to find meaning in, even if its themes are niche. These include catfishing (God You Want), body dysmorphia (Signature Move), and coming out guidance (Best Advice).

Ultimately, ALTERNATE UNIVERSE was the first album I wrote with a clear concept in mind, and it will be the only album I share that predates FIEFDOM FALL. I hope you enjoy shifting perspectives through these pieces, all centered around the age-old question: what if? Writing this challenged me to see things from different angles - I hope it challenges you too.

This is the second part of a three-part series about a Woman's experience with a Religious Cult.Angel and her family are now part of a cult. They have surrendered their possessions, mind, and soul to the Prophet. Will they be happy and how will Angel cope with this change in her life?

I will be posting this story on RoyalRoad