Finding HopeSeptember 2026 In Photos
Posted on October 3, 2026
Another photo challenge! I didn’t have a particular goal in mind for this one, just the day to day documenting of the month, which I’d always known was going to be a busy one. That plan kind of went sideways halfway through but I liked what I’d included so far so I decided to continue the post anyway. September was busy and inspiring and exhausting and frustrating and exciting and unimaginable and as the month drew to a close, I felt that that was more than enough of a reason to document and share it.
1. IN THE MIRROR – I’ve been wearing my makeup the same way for so long now: concealer, eyeliner, mascara, and sometimes a bit of highlighter. And some eyebrow tint very, very occasionally. It’s quick (unless the eyeliner refuses to cooperate) and relatively easy to do but I’m so short-sighted that I have to be SO CLOSE to the mirror; my nose practically touches the glass and I’ve knocked various products against the mirror more times than I can count. I’ve started needing to take an actual mirror with me if I ever have to stay at a hotel because, guaranteed, they’re always above a sink or desk and I CAN’T SEE THAT FAR.
2. AT THE TABLE – Having committed to a thirty day music production challenge – where I had to make something everyday throughout September – I spent a lot of time at my desk, working at my laptop with my recording gear. Now that I have a good, supportive desk chair, working at my desk is easier than it used to be but I still struggle with executive function of transitioning from one task to another, especially if it’s in a different room – so I’m often stuck at my desk or stuck on the sofa. ADHD is incredibly frustrating.
Read MoreIntroducing: Eden J Howells
Posted on June 28, 2026
Earlier this week, Eden J Howells – songwriter, artist, and founder of Queer Creatives London – put on a fantastic gig at Colours Hoxton in London. Unfortunately I was not there; the heatwave was triggering my POTS, making me anxious to travel by train, and it was too hot to take Daisy with me, which only made me more anxious (there was a warning on travel but I only reluctantly admitted defeated at the last possible moment). But I’ve been scrolling though the videos and photos on social media and oh my god, it looks like an incredible night. Eden is a fantastic indie-folk singersongwriter and if you haven’t listened to their music, I highly recommend doing so (my favourite is ‘aphrodite‘ but it’s a tough choice). Between Eden, their band, and multiple very cool special guests, the videos are a musical feast and I’m experiencing major FOMO but I’m very grateful to be able to at least get a peak at all of the stunning performances. The night was in aid of Eden’s fundraiser for top surgery and just watching these videos, I can feel the supportive atmosphere through my phone screen. It’s really moving to see people showing up for each other and the event raised over £4,000! This has been a huge leap forward for the fundraiser and the goal is definitely in sight – if you’d like to know more about it and read Eden’s story, then you can find it here…
“Hello dear friend/kind stranger. My name’s Eden (they/them), I’m a 25 year old transmasc musician and community organiser from London. And I’m fundraising to get top surgery! I came out as non-binary in 2021 and started taking T in 2023. Top surgery is something I’ve wanted since I figured out I was trans, but I’ll be honest, it’s taken me a while to muster up the courage to share that with the world. But yay me for being brave! Here we go…” (x)
I’m very aware that many of us don’t have a lot of much money right now so if you can’t donate, that’s totally okay but if you can share the fundraiser, I would appreciate it and I know that Eden really would too. I don’t know them well – we’ve met a couple of times at gigs – but they are a wonderful person and a fantastic singersongwriter. And on a personal note, I think that it’s so, so important to see queer, trans, and/or neurodivergent people writing about their lives because their music gives people – so many people who have rarely heard their feelings and experiences reflected back to them in the music they listen to – validation, representation, and a safe space. This is something that has been such a central theme throughout my life, as both a listener and a songwriter – it’s something I strive for in my own music – and so it’s very inspiring to see people like Eden creating such beautiful work, especially as an independent artist. This whole topic could be a blog post of its own but I’ll stop there before I get too far down that particular rabbit hole… As I’ve already said, if you haven’t listened to Eden’s music, I highly recommend it and if you are able to, you can support them and their music here, where you can find their show dates and merch. They also have a Patreon if that’s more your kind of thing. Check out their song ‘people watching‘ here…
Thank you for reading (and hopefully listening!) and stay safe in this heatwave!
Too Much And Not Enough, Vol. 1 – Out Now!
Posted on February 28, 2026
“This EP isn’t just music; it’s connection, validation, and advocacy wrapped in melody.” (x)
My proudest achievement of 2025 was releasing new music: two singles and an EP! Having not released a project since my Honest EP in 2020 (although I later released the acoustic version in 2021), I’ve been so desperate to release more music but health stuff got in the way and it took a long time to get back to a place where I was even close to capable of managing the stress of putting out a new project (and stressful it was). Given everything that happened between late June and December, I didn’t have the headspace, the physical ability, the time, or any combination of the three to write about it properly. But I didn’t want to skip it because it is so important to me and to the last year so – finally – here is the post about my recent EP, Too Much And Not Enough, Vol. 1. This is – hopefully – the first in a series about my experiences of being autistic, inspired by how lonely and isolating it was to grow up, never seeing or hearing my life represented in books, film, TV, music, and so on. It’s taken a long time to feel ready to take on a project like this but now that I am, I know without a doubt that this is the art that I’m meant to be making.
“What makes Too Much And Not Enough, Vol. 1 powerful is its dual role as personal diary and shared lifeline. Hooper writes for her younger self, for others navigating similar realities, and for those who may be hearing these experiences articulated for the first time. The result is a project that doesn’t just speak – it listens back, offering connection in a world that often overlooks the voices that need to be heard most.” (x)
