Ep1 | Foreword; Prologue: Evolve

Introductory notes.

Foreword.

In this chapter, I reflect on the idea that a good book is like a dream, and for me, this story is no exception. It’s more than just one dream—it’s actually three: mine, the protagonist’s, and yours, the reader’s. But this book is a bit different from others because it wasn’t born from just words on a page. It came from a playlist (available on Spotify) I created—a mix of electronic music, alt-rock, and trip-hop (read more about it here: https://bantamdrexler.com/playlist/). As I listened, the story began to unfold in my mind. I saw Jayson’s compass rose tattoo, Rose dead on a divan, and the Pyramid Club in a near-future New York City that’s stuck between the past and future. This version of New York is a place of contradictions—a city where opportunity collides with exclusivity, and technology has seeped into every part of life. Throughout it all, music ties everything together. My goal was to create something more than just a book. I wanted to offer an experience that blends music, art, and reader interaction—something that goes beyond the page and invites you into a world you can dream with and shape in your own way. Maybe someday I"ll achieve that. I do try and interpret the book visually with digital art on social media, but for now, the best way to immerse yourself in the story is through this podcast.

Prologue: Evolve.

Check out the Phoria song on Spotify.

The prologue immerses readers in a high-tech, cutthroat world, where innovation races ahead of ethics. Ladonna Chambers, CEO of Arbor Systems, looks out from her penthouse, relishing the impending release of her company's groundbreaking technology, Branch—a neural interface that allows users to control their devices with thoughts alone. Ladonna sees herself on the cusp of reshaping humanity’s future, certain that her invention will make her a legend. But beneath her confidence lies a simmering tension.

Remi Darden, Arbor’s lead engineer, barges into her sleek, high-rise world with alarming news. He’s discovered a critical vulnerability in Branch’s system, a flaw that could compromise users' most intimate data. Darden’s revelation threatens everything Ladonna has built—her empire, her reputation, and her dreams of eternal recognition. But while Darden urges caution, Ladonna is unwilling to delay the launch. For her, the risks are worth the reward. To halt now would be to forsake her destiny.

As the prologue unfolds, Ladonna’s thirst for control over human evolution becomes chillingly apparent. When Darden refuses to back down, Ladonna takes drastic steps, hiring a hitman through a dark web service to silence him. This chapter sets the tone for Digital Song, where technology’s reach into the mind sparks intense moral conflicts. In Ladonna, we see a character so consumed by power that she’s willing to erase any obstacle—even the people closest to her—to shape the future in her image.