My Wildroot & Amber project got me started on making boxes. I used the laser cutter to create them — slick little things with tabs that lock perfectly into each other. I made four in total, and with each one, I could feel them getting better, tighter, cleaner. There’s something so satisfying about that click when everything fits together just right.
I’ve always hated a spaghetti mess of cords and wires — it’s just so ugly and chaotic. I spent almost a year wiring and rewiring my pedalboard, and honestly, sometimes I think I enjoy that process more than actually playing music. There’s something meditative about order.
Now, all I see are boxes (now and then circles) and realized that the world is made fully of boxes: houses, cabinets, kitty litters, shipping crates, bento boxes. Even our thoughts — all boxed in.
So maybe my weird obsession isn’t that weird after all.
Recently, I met with Greta, my mentor at Maker Lab, and she gave me some amazing ideas. She encouraged me to grow instead of just doing what I already know — which hit home. So instead of using the same laser-cut tabs, I’m going to design the faces of both sides of the box to slide up and down so I can fully customize them. The frames will (I think!) all be the same — and I need to make eight in total.
It’s honestly amazing to have someone to talk to about my boxes, Arduino, music, and pedals. Most people’s eyes glaze over the second I start explaining. But with Greta, it’s like creative therapy — I can spill out all my ideas, and they’re actually welcomed.
Now, with this new project, I’m going even deeper. I’m making more boxes — boxes within boxes, boxes that hide wires, boxes that are going to be ridiculously beautiful.
Here’s the plan: I’ll build a frame with a sliding back and front so I can easily work on the electronics inside. I’m adding a little drawer mechanism to slide components in and out. The faces will be interchangeable depending on the technology I’m using. I’ll start by recreating my “Angela” box since it’s already built, but the next one might have a full video screen. There will be eight compositions in total — which means eight technologies to build and experiment with.
Inside, I’ll route out spaces to hold the computer, Arduino, and all the wiring — everything tucked neatly into its own place.
I’m on Beta 3 right now, and it’s taking time — but honestly, what else am I going to do? Watch Netflix on the little box that sucks my time? Nah. I’d rather build my own.