Why I Chose Art Over $ Millions

Dear Friend,

If you're hearing this, you hold a special place in my heart.

First off, the 8AM Album drops tomorrow. So this is a very important email I’m sending you today.

This is the story behind the album, told completely vulnerably and raw.

Over the past eight months, I embarked on an experiment—an experiment in surrendering to the flow of life.

As 2023 was drawing to a close, everything seemed to be falling into place—at least, on the surface.

I was running a ludicrously profitable business which allowed me to sign a lease with my girlfriend for the most vibey apartment I could find in LA—3,100 sq feet overlooking the Pacific, nestled in the Palisades with the ocean on one side and mountains on the other. I quickly discovered that my neighbors included famous rapper/artists, a Bloomingdale’s heir, and other centi-millionaire families. The garage was filled with Porsches, Ferraris, G-Wagons, RR’s, and Lambos. The rent cost was more than I care to admit, but I was rolling in cash so I didn’t care.

I had also just purchased my first piece of fine art, a painting by Sage Willows, titled The Way, The Truth, The Light (this comes in later). Everything on the material plane was ‘perfect’.

But yet something was wrong.

Every morning, I woke up with anxiety gnawing at me. The work that once excited me now felt like a burden, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something vital was missing.

In my search for answers, I revisited a book I’d read years ago: Autobiography of a Yogi—the only book Steve Jobs had on his iPad and the one he gave to every attendee at his funeral. George Harrison of The Beatles famously said, "I have stacks of Autobiography of a Yogi in my house that I hand out to anyone who needs spiritual regrooving."

And regrooving was exactly what I needed.

Despite all the outward success, I felt lost, like a fraud, as if everything I was doing was disconnected from my true potential. This book, a spiritual classic, began to reawaken something deep within me.

Shortly after moving into my new apartment, my friend Milan arrived for a visit. Milan, just 24, co-founder of a business that pulls in tens of millions a year, is also a yogi and he meditates for upwards of 5 hours daily. He’s also Indian, from India, so this spiritual depth is in his blood. 

We went to work out together in Venice Beach, and on our way back to my new apartment, Milan noticed something remarkable. As we approached my apartment, he pointed out a large temple hidden behind lush greenery, overlooking a lake. "Wait a second," he said, "I know that temple. That’s SRF!"

It hit me—SRF—Self-Realization Fellowship, the organization founded by Yogananda, the very author of the book I was rereading. I had unknowingly moved in next door to this spiritual headquarters. And there’s a picture of this place in the back of the book.

This could not be a coincidence. It had to be a sign.

I soon discovered that the SRF Ashram was a monastery where monks lived, offering free lectures and meditation sessions. It was a place open to all, regardless of religious beliefs—a sanctuary for those seeking spiritual growth. And somehow I became a regular, drawn to the community and wisdom shared in their Sunday lectures.

During one of these talks, the lecturing monk spoke about making changes in life through experiments. He likened it to trying on new clothes—you don’t commit until you’re sure it fits. You don’t walk into a store, grab random clothes off the rack and walk out. No. You carefully look through everything they have, bring some items to a changing room, try them on, and only then do you purchase and bring them home. 

Such is life. If you want to make a change, you need not commit to it forever. Try a new change in your life out for 30 days. If you don’t like it, go back to your old ways. 

This struck a chord with me.

Deep down, I knew that if money weren’t a factor, I’d spend my time making music and designing clothes. Art was in my blood—my mother is an abstract expressionist painter, and my father, a surrealist photographer. I took piano lessons from the age of five to fifteen & always paid careful attention to the sound design in my 15+ years of editing videos for YouTube. 

I told myself, when I make $20 million, THEN I’ll go into making music full time. Doing it now would be “impractical”. The fear of becoming a “starving artist” held me back. I clung to my crypto coins and profitable digital info product ventures, afraid to fully embrace my artistic calling.

Inspired by the monk’s words, I set myself a 30-day experiment: to do what I love, without concern for money. That’s when I created “Wait for It,” my first single. The experience was exhilarating—pure joy. And the response was overwhelming.

A week after releasing the song, something remarkable happened. A shipment of 8AM hoodies and sweatsets I had ordered eight months earlier arrived at my door—a brand I had retired years ago. The timing was uncanny.

By the end of my experiment, I had more songs in the works. I was alive with creative energy, sleeping little because I was so driven—not by anxiety, but by passion. Everything was aligning—music, clothing, the 8AM brand, even the 8AM app. It all clicked.

But I was faced with a dilemma. My coaching group, which was my main source of income, no longer felt aligned with this new path. With an $18k/month apartment and other expenses piling up, I was tempted to return to my old ways, even dabbling in risky crypto meme coin mania in hopes of a quick windfall of cash.

Then it hit me—what the hell was I doing? Why was I still chasing money at the expense of my art? The contrast was now so clear.

What would I leave behind if I continued down this path? I pictured my grave stone, “here lies arlin, he had 20,000,000 mochi tokens and a course on how to make your instagram look cool.”

Omg. Fck that.

I thought of the great artists I admired. They weren’t wasting their 20s chasing quick riches. They were creating art with integrity, leaving behind legacies that would outlive them.

In that moment, I made a decision. I no longer cared about money as my pinnacle focus. My focus shifted entirely to one question: What will I leave behind?

Over the next seven months, I dedicated every waking hour to this album. And the universe seemed to support me in this pursuit. I met Ryan, a master audio engineer who’s paid tens of thousands of dollars per project. He believed in my vision so much that he offered his services for free. Unexpected financial support appeared, allowing me to continue without compromise.

My spiritual practices deepened as well. Every morning my routine was:

1. Wake up and meditate in front of my Sage Willows painting for 1 hour focusing on “The Way The Truth and The Light”

2. Spend the rest of the day on music and whatever my higher self felt called to do, regardless of financial outcome.

And now, 8 months later, I’m ready to share the result of this journey with you.

Here’s the tracklist for the 8AM album:

Seek God First

Thru The Fire x Rapta

To Be

Free to Dream — ft Chloe

Where the Kings Roam

Wait for it

Disciple x Jack Bratset

Free The People

Read that song list again… maybe in a different cadence… ;)

Each of these songs has a powerful story behind it.

I invite you to listen—not just to the music, but to the journey behind it. This album is more than a collection of songs; it’s the story of surrendering to what truly matters, of letting go of fear, and of embracing the legacy we each have the power to create.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

With love & gratitude,

Arlin

ps - a reminder… the 8AM Album comes out TOMORROW at 8AM your time… Please enjoy. And if you want to help me out, use it in all your instagram reels, youtube content, tik toks, eveyrwhere. LOVE YOU - Arlin.