I started listening to Manson at the age of 16 as a lonely, isolated teenager with social anxiety. I spent a whole summer alone without leaving my house and one of the only activities that made me happy then was listening to Manson’s music. I had a loved one die that summer and it was shocking and sad. At that period of my life, I was beginning to take an interest in politics and question religion. I learned that I am agnostic and I left the religion I was raised believing. Marilyn Manson’s music gave me comfort about aspects of the world that I didn’t like and my own disappointment. I related to his music and saw my own story in some of his songs. His music made me value individuality more and frown upon blind conformity if there was not a good reason to conform. His music calmed my frustration with politics down and gave me comfort. It made me less ashamed of being different, but instead proud in an edgy way.