The two options: monthly singles or a patient album cycle. In 2022 I put out 9 singles, scheduled on the 15th each month through DistroKid. I gained momentum and quick feedback — seeing skip rates, Shazam pings, and 2–3 small playlist adds per drop kept me nimble. But I gave up headspace for a bigger arc, and most long-form press ignored the scatter. I also felt the 3 a.m. tweak-and-upload grind creeping into my writing time. In 2024 I built a 10-song record over 14 months, mixed in Logic Pro with UAD plugs and an SM7B, and did a 6-week lead-up. I gained a story I could tour on, 400 vinyl pre-orders, and merch per head up about $6 on a 12-city run — plus a sync brief nibble on track 3.