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Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 2m

(I don’t read Newsweek)

I got into the music business SPECIFICALLY to help advance talented artists from around the world. I love folk and traditional music from every country on the planet. Stories like this are the reason I HAVE to try something else.

www.newsweek.com/music-execut...

Music executive speaks out after visa revoked over Charlie Kirk post

The State Department announced the revocation of visas for several individuals accused of celebrating Charlie Kirk's death.

www.newsweek.com

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 10m

two men in black shirts are standing next to each other in a jewelry store .

ALT: two men in black shirts are standing next to each other in a jewelry store .

media.tenor.com

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 18m

Brett Goldstein.

That’s all.

That’s the post.

Isn’t he GORGEOUS?

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 1h

White people are getting whiter.

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 1h

As an exOhioan I can confirm that the American Nazi movement was homegrown right in the buckeye state.

I watched it bloom from 2010 to 2019 when I left again, and now it’s everywhere.

My college gf, a black woman, and I had to run from Confederates with shovels, on a date in Geneva.

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 3h

I should’ve emphasized that I’m a songwriter, and not really a performer.

There just aren’t any songwriting jobs that pay enough to live on, now that AI and Hans Zimmer have perfected and guarded the ghostwriter class of musicians.

I may even renounce my union membership. ASCAP is toothless.

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 3h

I want to make a LOVING living.

I wasn’t cut out for selling my own image.

I don’t have, want, or need an image. That’s kind of my central point about living as a trans woman. 🤷‍♀️

I still think I should be a den mother for a queer theater troupe.

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 5h

Cut to:
Jesus making smoke rings through his hands.

(Evangelicals can’t tell if I’m being serious or cruel. That’s the best compliment I can get.)

a blue sky with white clouds and circles in the sky

ALT: a blue sky with white clouds and circles in the sky

media.tenor.com

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Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 5h

There’s supposed to be a laugh emoji in there. Idk why it’s not working.

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 5h

But I’m not Lilly. ❤️

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 5h

Both were written by The Heritage Foundation.

Careful.

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Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 5h

Blasphemy is my specialty. 🥸

What goes “WHIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ pop?”
Jesus giving a high five.

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Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 5h

It’s a privilege to know there are good people who care about me without even meeting me.

I’m grateful to see it. I’d forgotten it exists.

I don’t believe in a god but any measure of love that comes my way is some kind of blessing from the universe.

Thanks for the reminders.

❤️ all 989 of you.

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Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 5h

I LOVE love! Love is lovely. lol.

It’s a privilege to know there are good people who care about me without even meeting me.

I don’t believe in a god but any measure of love that comes my way is some kind of blessing from the universe.

Thanks for the reminder. ❤️

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 6h

The best part about recovery is that it feels like I’m not doing it right until it suddenly starts to work—and now I can’t remember how all that pain sounded in my head, how it felt in my chest and on my shoulders.

It’s just gone.

I don’t have a craving to smoke.

This is what I wanted all along.

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Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 7h

I’ve hated kids since I was one.

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Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 7h

Honestly, I never wanted to teach. Especially kids.

Teaching sounds like a nightmare scenario.

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Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 7h

She’s the best.

I wish we still had Sinead though.

1

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 7h

They quit touring.

1

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 7h

You should try to see her the next ti…

Oh.

Damn.

I got to see her open for Alanis at the Hollywood Bowl. She really hates beach balls.

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Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 7h

My last music post for a while.

Levi Stubbs was the perfect singer.
Celine, Janet, Whitney, and Kylie are the only pop stars you need to listen to.
John Bonham would’ve been a better drummer if he’d lived to see 35.
Vinnie Colaiuta is the best drummer, because he’ll tell you he’s still learning

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 7h

As of two days ago, I no longer consider myself a professional musician.

I’m a professional.

I will always be musical.

But I can’t support this industry after watching it crush every peer and colleague I ever had, in favor of the Pop Oligarchs: Swift, Drake, U2.

I stand with Shirley Manson.

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Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 7h

YouTube covers are like copying your favorite book by hand and calling yourself a writer.

Fuckin’ CREATE something.

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 7h

WHAT jobs are left?

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 7h

So… here’s the situation I’m in.

I would like to work.

I would like a job with no set schedule and a salary.

I am available 24/7.

I have skills, education, and experience in Art, Entertainment, Data Science, politics, and public outreach.

I won’t work retail.

I refuse to work unethically.

Ava Rose-Shirley (and DON’T call me Shirley!) @aiguitarist.bsky.social · 7h

So… here’s the situation I’m in.

I would like to work.

I would like a job with no set schedule and a salary.

I am available 24/7.

I have skills, education, and experience in Art, Entertainment, Data Science, politics, and public outreach.

I won’t work retail.

I refuse to work unethically.

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