The First Draft: Where It All Began

I’m not sure how I got into watching reaction videos, but one day I looked up and realized I’d spent hours watching people… watch things. What kept me coming back was the perspective—seeing something familiar through someone else’s eyes made the experience richer, more layered. A music producer reacting to “So Long, London” pointed out how the composition never resolves, echoing the unresolved grief in the lyrics. That insight unlocked something for me. I kept watching—therapists, poets, video editors—and each new voice brought something new to the art I thought I already knew.

What really stuck with me was how reaction creators—often from completely different backgrounds—shared deeply personal takes. They were reflecting on culture, emotion, identity… over Taylor Swift songs. The reaction format gave them a safer space to be vulnerable, and the fan comments were often just as thoughtful. It wasn’t just entertainment. It was curiosity, empathy, and connection—things I worry we’re losing in today’s algorithm-driven scroll.

But it wasn’t easy to find new creators. YouTube’s algorithm kept serving me the same One of our vendor partners once joked, “You’re basically building univeones. Hunting for fresh content took more time than actually enjoying it. And if there’s one thing I value above all else, it’s time. We can’t stockpile it, buy it back, or borrow more. I thought: what if I could build a tool that saves fans time and helps creators reach the right audience?

That was the first spark of Fan Curator.

The Second Draft: What It Aims to Be

As I began mapping out how this platform could work—how to connect fans to creators and surface the best versions, insights, and storylines—I realized I was building more than a search tool. I was building a catalog with meaning. And the fan in me? Totally lit up.

Why not share this with other fans who love the why behind the art? Not just playlists, but curated paths—journeys through content with context, lore, and perspective. Some creators want the deep dives, others want to go in blind. There’s something powerful about discovering the art on your own terms—then peeling back the layers and watching your understanding evolve.

And it’s not limited to music. Think interviews, podcasts, performance clips, essays—anything that adds depth to the experience. That’s when I knew: this wasn’t just a fan tool. It was a new way to explore digital media.

Version Three: The Big Vision

Sure, we started with one artist’s catalog—but why stop there? Imagine universes built around generational culture—from Beatles and bell-bottoms to Nirvana and Felicity. Or universes shaped by professional perspectives—vocal coaches, historians, poets—guiding us through curated paths with their unique expertise. What if there was a universe for emotion itself? One that curates art that helps us grieve, celebrate, or process life? Or a storytelling universe—full of folk songs, myths, and narratives that shaped us long before Spotify did.

There’s no limit. Fan Curator started with one idea and now, like our own universe, it’s expanding.