Three Weeks In: What I've Built (and What I Forgot)

It has been exactly 21 days since NBGee Foundry was officially formed. Three weeks. And in that time, I learned a classic founder's lesson: don't get so busy building the business that you forget about the art.

Last Friday, my new cinematic track, "Luctus Inanis," was released on all streaming platforms. I had almost no idea it was happening. There was no promo, no countdown—just a surprise release that I nearly missed myself.

Why? Because for the last 21 days, I've been completely immersed in the unglamorous, essential work of turning a vision into a reality. While the music was waiting in the digital queue, I was:

• Building Our Home: I designed and launched the official nbgeefoundry.com website from scratch, creating a professional hub for our entire mission.

• Fostering Community: I've been pouring energy into the SMR project, launching a printed newsletter for our non-connected residents, and receiving the most incredible, heartwarming feedback—from residents enjoying the word games at dinner to a legally blind neighbor who can now enjoy the newsletter through its new podcast-style audio version.

• Developing Technology: I built our first internal tool, a "Podcast Generation App," to streamline the SMR audio production—a real, tangible product from the Foundry Technology pillar.

• Starting the Right Conversations: I reconnected with a small circle of trusted, brilliant former colleagues—people who could form the foundational leadership team for this company—and began the pivotal conversations that will shape our future.

I was so focused on laying the foundation that I forgot a finished piece of architecture was about to be revealed.

It's a perfect, real-world example of the "Indie Label Journey." It's the constant balancing act between being the artist and being the CEO. And while I'll definitely be adding "check the release schedule" to my weekly Trello board, it's a mistake I'm happy to have made. It's proof that we are moving, building, and making real progress.

This is the journey, messy and surprising as it is. Thank you for being here for it. I'd be honored if you'd take a listen to the track I almost forgot.

Logbook Entry 001: The Accidental Founder

(Click the image to view and engage with the original post on TikTok.)

I accidentally started a media company.

There’s a strange and surreal feeling when a dream you’ve held for years suddenly becomes tangible, official, and written on government paper. One minute you're just a person with a laptop full of beats and ideas; the next, you’re looking at formation documents and an EIN from the IRS, thinking, "Well, I guess this is real now."

There’s definitely a little imposter syndrome, but mostly a whole lot of excitement for what’s next. So, what’s the big news? Last week, I officially founded NBGee Foundry, LLC.

Think of the LLC as a strong umbrella. Under that one umbrella, I have my two main public-facing brands: DJ NBGee, my artist and producer name, and NBGee Records, my independent record label. And in a move of ultimate efficiency, the label has already signed its first artist… me. 😉

Jokes aside, this has been a long time coming. NBGee Foundry is the official home for everything to come, built on the mission to engineer systems and platforms that connect people for innovative and positive shared experiences. It’s a venture built on a 25-year career in technology, a lifetime of making music, and a deep-seated belief in the power of storytelling.

The first steps are already in motion with Project Phoenix (the "Glitch in the Script" open verse challenge) and the "Gen X Confessions" series on TikTok.

Thank you for being here for the journey. The foundation is laid. It’s time to build.