Interview with Brianna Tuerff

Few things in life feel as electrifying as watching someone discover who they truly are, and then turning that truth into art you can dance, dream, or headbang to. Today’s guest, Brianna Tuerff, is a living example of that magic. A transgender musician from Phoenix, Arizona, Brianna creates electronic and instrumental metal soundscapes under the alias Brianna and the VSTs, a name that hints at her love affair with synthesizers and digital creativity. Her music blends psychedelic textures, punchy beats, and guitar-driven energy, drawing inspiration from genre-fusing icons like Apollo 440 and Ozric Tentacles. Whether she’s experimenting with trippy instrumentals or layering intricate electronic arrangements, Brianna’s tracks invite listeners to escape reality for a while, a skill she first honed in childhood with a trusty Super Nintendo and a pair of headphones. Brianna isn’t just a musician; she’s a storyteller of transformation. She documents her gender transition openly, both on Reddit (as Neonnimrod) and through her YouTube channel BriannaIsGreat, where she shares everything from music updates to personal reflections.

Interview with Alana Joy

Alana Joy is a woman of many passions and talents, weaving together the lives of a commodity trader, musician, photographer, hiker, writer, and dreamer. Her creativity and love of nature are deeply connected to her home in Phoenix, Arizona, where she often finds peace and inspiration on the desert trails that surround the city. Music, photography, and the art of charting and trading have all shaped her outlook on life, but it is her personal journey of self-discovery that defines her most. In 2015, Alana shared that journey with the world through her autobiography Dreamy Morning, a book that blends raw honesty with a deep sense of hope. By telling her story, she wanted to challenge the harmful misconception that being transgender is a choice, and she hoped to reach young people, parents, and anyone who might feel lost or alone. Writing her book was not easy for her, as she had long been a private person, yet her desire to make a difference outweighed her fears. Her reflections reveal not only the courage it takes to live authentically but also the compassion she feels for others navigating similar paths.

Interview with Dee HunnyBuns

 

Dee HunnyBuns is a young Mexican-American transgender woman from Phoenix, Arizona, who documents her transition on YouTube. A licensed massage therapist who has also completed her training as a cosmetic laser technician, Dee has a passion for beauty and helping other women feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. Dee began living full-time as a woman at the age of 17 and started hormone therapy at 20. Through her YouTube vlogs, she shares her personal experiences of transition, including hormone therapy and her orchiectomy in March 2014. Inspired by other transgender women who documented their journeys online, she hopes to offer practical information and reassurance to those facing similar experiences. Among the women she admires are Janet Mock, Laverne Cox, Candis Cayne, Isis King, and Calpernia Addams, as well as trans activists working to improve the lives of their communities.

 

Although Dee has faced discrimination and challenges in learning to accept herself, she believes that embracing one's identity is more important than meeting conventional standards of beauty. She is particularly keen to encourage younger transgender women to be patient with themselves and remember that womanhood is not defined by physical appearance or the number of surgeries they undergo. Happily surrounded by supportive friends and family, Dee looks forward to completing her transition, developing her career in the beauty industry, and finding new ways to help her fellow trans sisters. Her message is simple and heartfelt: living authentically, keeping an open heart, and having the courage to follow one's own path can make all the difference.