The name „Loyal Puppet“ was actually just my artist name. I was beginning to discover new forms of artistic expression, and the name was a note to myself that expressed everything I didn’t want to be. Under this artist name, the album „Styrofoam Adventures“ was released in 2018, and I was still considering myself a solo artist at the time. 

When I met singer and lyricist Mia, we formed a band, sat together in my kitchen & tried to think of names that would work for us as a group. We tried all sorts of combinations, but a decision was made that my artist name „Loyal Puppet“ was actually perfect for us. Rehearsals started. Then Leo (drummer & producer) came along & brought an enthusiasm for the songs that surprised & inspired all of us. Leo’s passion for comic led him to contribute hand-drawings & sketches for the Loyal Puppet logo. 

Other songs were written, mostly based on riffs that I had been jamming on, & posted in social media. Leo found these ideas so cool that he insisted on them being brought to the rehearsal room & used as new material. „Welcome to Thursday“ is one such song. By now there are at least four different recorded versions of this song, always with different band members, always moving, always changing. 

Three of the original songs from my album „Styrofoam Adventures“ were moved to the rehearsal room to be re-written, re-arranged & re-voiced. „Lone Alpha“ was one of our collective favorites. 

Then came corona. The band tried to survive by performing digitally, but this didn’t last long. Bass players came & went, until finally lead singer Mia quit. This was a major setback for the band, since I never really considered myself a singer, much less capable of fronting the band. I was actually just content with playing my riffs & rocking out on stage. Getting my songs out there into the world was my main driving force: if it didn’t work on stage, it was gonna work on an album & I was convinced that I just had to keep going and getting better.

In 2022 the band only consisted of Leo & myself. Leo, who never quit, never gave up, despite how un-dedicated former members of the band proved to be. Valentino showed up, fresh out of New York with new ideas of how to work as a band & introduce ourselves in an ever-changing, ever-competitive music scene. 

 Val was a big game changer. He seemed to never run out of energy. The songs were (yet again) re-written, re-arranged & re-voiced to better suit us as a trio, & to also support my still developing vocal skills. The band all collectively set sights on an album. Studios were visited, plans were made. 

Then came the breakdown. Due to the drummer’s inner battles & spiraling health issues, Leo could no longer perform, rehearse or record for the band. External talent was hired to complete the recording of our first music video „Jigoku“ which was actually a song that Leo composed a large part of & passionately named. 

Recording this video was exhausting for me. Everything seemed to be a struggle. It was during & after the completion of the video that I finally realized: despite all my efforts, it wasn’t gonna work this way. I took my songs back into my creative cosmos & returned to my home studio. 

„Styrofoam Adventures“ was re-recorded, & re-mastered. The planned release was August 2023. Out of frustration I decided to add „Welcome to Thursday“ to my remaster, since this song has accompanied me from beginning to end. The song for me was like a survivor of some great tumult: it finally being released in an unchangeable way was somehow emotionally significant. 

My commitment to get my music into the world will never change.

Mercedes Afonso

August 2023