The story behind this project: I got an email from a freelance job board I subscribe to. The person needed a freelance designer to create an album cover. Pay: $1,000. "What?" I yelled at the screen. I go to the post, ready to apply for the gig, only to find out that they required "extensive" experience and examples in a portfolio. Well, I had only designed book covers at the time, but I was immediately determined to create a few, maybe 10 or so, drop them in my portfolio, and apply. Easy-peasy, right?

I wrote down seven or eight music genres right off the top of my head, deciding to go with Heavy Metal as my first project.

Who doesn't like fire, dragons, and chaos?

I created the album cover, then sent it to my friend Laurel, a fellow Metal enthusiast. She LOVED it!

But then I thought maybe I should create a track to go with the album cover, because I felt that could "boost" my application. Within two days, I had compiled a complex spreadsheet with 20 genres, three albums planned for each (resulting in 60 artists), including the names of the singers, their backstories, and approximately 18 album covers and songs. "This will hopefully get me an interview," I thought. I go back to the post. Too late.

I see, "The posting has reached its limit on 'free account' applications." Grrrrr.

So, I decided to start my own record company, Fortitude Records.  I now have 62 (fictional) artists, 62 "debut" songs, and 62 fictional album covers over 21 genres. Eventually, all of the artists will have full albums, some will "go on tour," have merch, and have articles in "trending music magazines" (that I've also created). They'll each have their own social media accounts. Their music will be on streaming platforms, and my portfolio will only get bigger and bigger in case another job opportunity like that comes along.

People are going crazy for some of the songs right now. Who knows? Some of my "bands" might even get IRL record deals!

Stay tuned, you guys. This is (hopefully) going to be EPIC.