Forrest Lemaire, known to the world as Mr. Kitty, crafts music that feels like a late-night drive through neon-lit memories. His work blends nostalgia with raw emotion, pulling listeners into a space where electronic beats meet personal stories.
The artist works at the same computer he has used since he was 18, a proof of the consistency that has defined both his creative process and his stubborn independence in an industry that often demands constant reinvention.
“Most days start with me working on the same computer I have used since I was 18,” LeMaire says, “I like consistency in my setup because it keeps me focused.”
That focus has carried him through a career marked by viral success, personal struggles and a controversial period that led to a four-year hiatus from live performance. Now, with his return to the stage in 2025 and the release of his ambitious 40-track album “Unreal,” Mr. Kitty is navigating a comeback that puts his strength to the test.
The journey from bedroom producer to underground electronic music icon began in LeMaire’s early teens when he first experimented with breakcore but it was his transition to darker electronic territories that would define his career and eventually create the Mr. Kitty controversy that would both elevate and complicate his artistic legacy.
LeMaire’s evolution as Mr. Kitty reflects the broader transformation of electronic music in the digital age. Since the late 2000s, he’s made a name for himself with careful, self-made production, creating music that blends sentimental electronic sounds with deeply emotional themes.
“A typical day involves sketching out sequences, layering synth textures and experimenting with vocals until something feels right,” he says. “I take breaks to reset by stepping outside or drawing inspiration from quiet moments. Productivity is not about forcing output every day, but about being ready to recognize when an idea has weight and committing to it fully.”
This philosophy of patient creativity produced a body of work that ultimately connected with millions of listeners. His 2014 album “Time” introduced the track “After Dark,” which became his calling card years later when it exploded on YouTube in 2019 and later found new life on TikTok in 2021. The song’s haunting melody and introspective lyrics captured something that resonated across age groups and culture, turning a bedroom producer from Texas into an unlikely viral sensation.
The Creative Evolution Through Crisis
LeMaire’s response to crisis has consistently been to channel difficult emotions into his music; a trait that has produced some of his best works. His 2019 double album “Ephemeral”, with 30 tracks about grief and loss, might be his boldest project yet, showing how he can weave deep emotions into long, meaningful musical stories.
“I always begin with emotion,” he says. “For Ephemeral, the focus was grief. For Unreal, it was rebirth and experimentation. I built a loose mood board of visuals, words, and textures that feel connected to the theme. Once a few anchor tracks take shape, the rest of the project builds around them. It feels like sculpting, chipping away until the form reveals itself.”
While making Ephemeral, Forrest Lemaire was dealing with personal loss. This album showed he was more than just a viral hit maker, placing him among electronic artists who use technology to dive into the raw, fragile side of being human.
His latest album “Unreal” represents a different kind of emotional processing. Released in 2024 after his hiatus, the 40-track collection explores themes of of starting anew and trying new things while incorporating collaboration in ways that challenged LeMaire’s normal solitary approach.
“The toughest decision was how much of Unreal should be collaborative and how much should remain solo,” he says. “I have always been a DIY artist, so opening the project to others felt intimidating. In the end, collaboration brought new layers to the music. I learned that protecting your vision does not mean isolating yourself; it means knowing your boundaries while still allowing exchange and growth.”
Mr. Kitty Wades Through Industry Pressures While Staying Independent
LeMaire’s career shows the ups and downs of making music independently in the streaming age. His DIY approach, born from necessity and sustained by preference, allowed him creative freedom that major label artists often lack.
The influence of his early mentors becomes clear when he discusses learning technical skills that would prove crucial to his independence. Roger and Micah from Negative Gain Productions provided guidance during difficult times while teaching him to handle business complexities without losing his identity as an artist. This mentorship proved valuable when LeMaire faced the Mr. Kitty controversy.
His self-taught approach to production reflects a broader DIY ethic that has defined independent electronic music for decades but LeMaire’s path was shaped by early experiences that taught him the value of persistence and attention to detail.
“When I was in high school, I created custom tracks for Stepmania, the rhythm game,” he says. “It was not a job, but it taught me discipline and attention to detail. Finishing projects, testing them and refining them was a process that carried into my music career. It showed me that even small creative efforts can shape long-term habits.”
This early experience with the rhythm game community introduced him to concepts of user feedback and iterative improvement that would serve him well as he developed his signature sound.
The Hiatus and Return to Performance
The decision to step away from live performance in 2021 marked a turning point in LeMaire’s career, forcing him to confront both external pressures and internal struggles that had accumulated during his rise to viral fame.
“Stepping away from live shows in 2021 was one of the hardest points in my career,” he says. “I was unsure if I would ever feel comfortable returning to the stage. Therapy and sobriety gave me the tools to face that period. I learned to distinguish between outside perceptions and my own identity.”
His time away from music challenges the usual stories about artist comebacks, which often focus on outside pressures rather than personal growth. For LeMaire, the hiatus was less about escaping controversy and more about rebuilding his relationship with creativity and performance on sustainable terms.
His return to the stage in 2025 with performances in Houston and Los Angeles represents a cautious re-engagement with live music.
“When I finally returned to performing in 2025, it felt like reclaiming something on my own terms,” he says. “That setback taught me resilience and reinforced that growth can come from rebuilding.”
The language of reclaiming and rebuilding indicates that LeMaire views his return not as a simple resumption of previous activities but as a conscious choice to engage with performance in new ways.
Mr. Kitty Advises New Artists
Even with the struggles during his hiatus, Mr. Kitty’s impact on synthwave and dark electronic music is still strong. His talent for mixing heartfelt lyrics with nostalgic electronic sounds has inspired many artists and set a standard for bringing real emotion into electronic music, which can often feel distant.
The viral success of “After Dark” demonstrates how music created in solitude can find global audiences through digital platforms but it also illustrates the unpredictable nature of contemporary music consumption. LeMaire’s experience shows that artistic longevity requires adaptability to circumstances beyond artist control while maintaining core creative principles.
“The key has always been honesty,” he says. “Every album has been rooted in something real, whether loss, love or joy. People feel when music comes from a sincere place. Staying independent for so long kept me connected to the raw process.”
Mr. Kitty’s focus on being emotionally honest in his music shows how independent artists can build lasting careers without losing their creative spark. He chooses long-term growth over quick commercial wins, a strategy that’s worked for him despite setbacks. His advice to new artists comes from his own highs and lows in the independent electronic music world.
“Do not chase virality,” he says. “Focus on building a catalog that feels true to you. Learn the technical side so you can create independently and not rely on others to execute your vision. Be patient. Success can happen years after a song is written, as it did with After Dark.”
Mr. Kitty’s journey is still unfolding, but his return to making and performing music proves that the creative spark that started in his Texas apartment still drives him, even as the challenges and expectations have grown. He is tackling his comeback with the same careful, patient approach he’s always used in his music, staying true to the emotional honesty that’s defined his work.
His return is a purposeful choice to create and perform on his own terms, rooted in the independence and sincerity that first built his name in electronic music.
