Just because I let it happen doesn’t make it right.

Another reason I told you about Bree is so you can understand how things have changed for me over the last year. I am not the person I was. After her death, I had to fight to get back to myself, past myself, to someone stronger. I spent a lot of time in therapy working to deal with the loss, and I re-evaluated what matters to me, how I spend my energy, and with whom I surround myself.

I woke the fuck up.

I realized I am am worth more.

I’m not saying I didn’t get anything out of this deal. I made more money on the sales of “My Delorean” than on other songs I’ve released as Primo, and a lot of people in the synthwave community discovered my other music as a result of this collaboration. Having my name attached to Timecop1983 also opened up other collaborative opportunities for me and has lended legitimacy to my work in this genre. I want to stress that I’m not here to “expose” or hurt anyone. I actually like Jordy. We had fun at his Texas shows. He even bought me dinner and drinks. But, hey, nice people fuck up. We all fuck up. I fucked up, too. The good news is there is a way to make it right… or at least not as wrong.

I have asked Jordy to re-upload “My Delorean” with honest artwork and metadata, adding me as, both, a main artist and producer. I did not ask him to remove himself from any credits. I offered to pay for the cost of re-uploading the song and have asked for the ISRC code (a unique identifier for audio recordings that will allow us to keep our play count, playlist placements, and listeners), so I can make these much-needed corrections myself. As of this essay’s publication, Jordy has not sent the ISRC code or agreed to re-upload the song. Without getting too into the weeds, Jordy doesn’t want to re-upload “My Delorean” for fear he may lose the song’s current play-count in the process. I, on the other hand, am more than willing to take the risk, and I believe I should be the one to make that choice.

Now, I originally wrote a much different, much more reactionary, version of this essay. Hell, I don’t think it’s any secret that I run a little hot. But, since then, I have taken time to reflect on the situation and find a way to express myself respectfully. I decided that, no matter the outcome of the song, I would address this publicly. I cannot tell you how hard it has been to read comments about “My Delorean” that praise Timecop1983’s “brilliant production” knowing that it wasn’t his. I believe I deserve the right to openly claim my work as my own, and I no longer wish to be complicit in my own exploitation. The conversations around these issues are important. We cannot tip-toe around a necessary dialogue that will help ensure everyone is treated fairly, and we can’t vilify people who speak out. While it’s the responsibility of artists to stand up for themselves and protect their work, it’s also the duty of more successful artists with power and influence not to take advantage of those in vulnerable positions.

I am hopeful that fears I’ve had over backlash from the synthwave community are unfounded. In fact, it’s those pesky fears that kept me quiet for so long. It was fear that stopped me from correcting this false narrative from the beginning and fear that kept me from having, as we say in the South, a “come-to-Jesus” conversation with Jordy a long time ago. Fear is the root of so many problems, but I just don’t have space for it anymore. I’d rather make room for more music…

👽

I want to thank Andy Last from Beyond Synth for giving me a proper platform and allowing me to express myself without censorship. (Thanks, bud. I hope they make a million “Toy Story” movies!) I also want to thank a few of my fellow artists who have supported me and encouraged me to speak up from day one. (You know who you are, you little cuties!) I’d like to thank my sister, who doesn’t take shit from anyone, for giving me a verbal smack-down when I thought about chickening out and keeping all of this to myself. (Y’all don’t want to make her mad.)

And, finally, I’d like to thank Bree. You changed my life, little bird.

xoxo - Primo the Alien

You can hear the episode of Beyond Synth here: LISTEN

Maybe I could change things

Out wandering in the past.

Or outrun all my demons,

If I get in gear and hit the gas.

Or, perhaps, I’ll spin the wheel,

Cut myself a deal somewhere

Between salvation and sin.

But for today, I’m gonna drive,

Content I’m still alive,

And let it go in the wind.

- “My Delorean” by Primo 👽