Mr.Kitty is the professional name for Forrest LeMaire, who is considered one of the most original vocalists in dark electronic music and synthwave music, due to his signature vocal style. His work as an artist has also included innovation and controversy, including his public exposure and a lengthy period of unemployment.
Today, he cautiously returns to perform live, indicating how an artist can continue to grow and change while still holding to the values of accountability for one’s actions (personal) and evolving creatively within a constantly changing audience base (fan community).
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
LeMaire, who was born in Arlington, Texas, began experimenting with electronic music production in adolescence. He was first introduced to the world of music through videos he saw on MTV and from hearing the trance music popular on a number of radio stations in Texas. He became interested in creating similar sounds after being shown FruityLoops (now FL Studio) by a friend; this opened his eyes to the fact that he could recreate the sounds that had been influencing him. He decided to use the artist name Mr.Kitty and create a style of music that reflected his emotional feelings.
In the early days, he was attracted to breakcore. Over time, he has transitioned to music styles with darker, moodier, more atmospheric elements that emphasize a more introspective outlook. Most of the time, he works independently and has developed a DIY style of producing that is integral to his identity as an artist. He continues to use much of the same gear he began using in his late teens, reiterating his commitment to an independent artistic process.
Career Highlights
In the 2010s, Mr. Kitty expanded on his existing body of work and helped relocate himself as an artist to a global audience. One of the most popular releases by LeMaire, entitled “Time,” was released in 2014 and included an early breakout song called “After Dark.” The song didn’t until late 2019, that it gained massive popularity after fans made YouTube edits of it, and then in 2021, after fans made TikTok videos choreographed to the song’s melody. Using these social media platforms created incredible exposure for LeMaire. By combining melancholy lyrics with nostalgic synth melodies created a sound distinct from previous pop artists and gave him a unique sound to reach the world.
The 2019 double album by Mr. Kitty titled “Ephemeral” is an album composed of 30 songs that describe the moments associated with personal loss. Combining deeply electronic sounds with emotional and vulnerable lyrics, the album established Mr. Kitty as a unique artist whose work illustrates the experience of losing someone close to him through listening to a variety of electronic soundscapes.
After a three-year hiatus from making music, Mr. Kitty released his latest album entitled “Unreal” in 2024. The 40-song album reflects Mr. Kitty’s ongoing collaboration with other artists as well as a more mature approach to songwriting and music composition than in previous albums. The album has received critical acclaim for evolving Mr. Kitty’s sound through layer upon layer of production, while maintaining the intense levels of introspection and emotion that have characterized Mr. Kitty’s earlier music.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Kitty has created numerous songs with a variety of other artists, including IAMX and Aesthetic Perfection. He has also been involved in making remixes and producing work that has been helpful in various subgenres of the Electronic Music genre of pop.
Return to Performance
LeMaire will also perform live again in 2025 with sellout concerts in Houston and Los Angeles after nearly 20 years away from the stage. He has stated that he sees this as his first step toward returning to the public, not as a “comeback.” In an interview, he noted, “It is nice to be able to go back out on stage and feel the connection again with a part of me that has been there all along but hasn’t had a voice. It’s nice to feel that again.”
Several people commented on how LeMaire seemed very different during these performances than he was before his hiatus. They think he came across as a much more reserved and reflective artist who is cognizant of both the excitement and skepticism about his return. The songs he performed were from Unreal and Ephemeral, which were more focused on creating an ambiance and continuity between them, as opposed to being big, flashy numbers.
Legacy and Continuing Influence
Forrest LeMaire has had a significant impact on the underground electronic community for over fifteen years and continues to do so today. Many independent producers credit his early works as a major influence on the resurgence of modern Darkwave/Synthpop music.
However, LeMaire’s legacy is debated among his listeners. The Mr.Kitty case brought how artists’ personal conduct/failures can change how an audience interacts with the artist into public view. While some feel that the emotional depth of LeMaire’s music and his skill as a musician provide them with value, others struggle to separate the artist from their art.
His return to performing and releasing music in 2025 comes at a pivotal point in LeMaire’s career. Through his current actions, he appears to want to rebuild—through an understanding of his previous mistakes, rather than through reinventing himself, and by being more disciplined in creating music. Whether or not this approach will result in a lasting reconciliation with his audience remains uncertain, but he appears to be at a more self-aware and thoughtful stage in his artistic development.
Moving Forward
The path of Forrest LeMaire has shown us the different forms of identity in present-day art. As someone who has made a distinct mark on the evolution of electronic music, primarily through the use of emotion and stories, he also accounts for his continued artistic growth and creation despite previous personal disagreements, as well as how those disagreements affected his performance trajectory.
Returning from a long absence from performing, Forrest remains committed to continuing to create and perform, using his experience as a foundation for his current creations. This duality of personal development throughout his creative process—along with how he portrays that to the audience—is what will guide the next era of Mr. Kitty‘s continued success.