diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/Cache.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/Cache.java
index dec6f1e..841c5e0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/Cache.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/Cache.java
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package wtf.beatrice.hidekobot;
 
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.datasources.ConfigurationEntry;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.datasources.ConfigurationSource;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.datasources.DatabaseSource;
@@ -9,7 +11,6 @@ import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.listeners.MessageCommandListener;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.listeners.MessageLogger;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.listeners.SlashCommandCompletionListener;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.listeners.SlashCommandListener;
-import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.util.Logger;
 
 import java.awt.*;
 import java.lang.reflect.Field;
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ public class Cache
 
     // todo: make this compatible with the message listener's regex
     private static final String botPrefix = "hideko";
-    private static final Logger logger = new Logger(Cache.class);
+    private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(Cache.class);
 
     // the Random instance that we should always use when looking for an RNG based thing.
     // the seed is updated periodically.
@@ -244,7 +245,7 @@ public class Cache
             Field field = Color.class.getField(colorName);
             color = (Color)field.get(null);
         } catch (RuntimeException | NoSuchFieldException | IllegalAccessException e) {
-            logger.log("Unknown color: " + colorName);
+            LOGGER.error("Unknown color: {}", colorName);
         }
         return color == null ? defaultColor : color;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/HidekoBot.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/HidekoBot.java
index b034987..7b9983f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/HidekoBot.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/HidekoBot.java
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import net.dv8tion.jda.api.JDA;
 import net.dv8tion.jda.api.JDABuilder;
 import net.dv8tion.jda.api.OnlineStatus;
 import net.dv8tion.jda.api.requests.GatewayIntent;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 import sun.misc.Signal;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.commands.completer.ProfileImageCommandCompleter;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.commands.message.HelloCommand;
@@ -17,7 +19,7 @@ import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.runnables.HeartBeatTask;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.runnables.RandomSeedTask;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.runnables.StatusUpdateTask;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.util.CommandUtil;
-import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.util.Logger;
+import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.util.FormatUtil;
 
 import java.io.File;
 import java.time.LocalDateTime;
@@ -32,31 +34,31 @@ public class HidekoBot
 {
     private static JDA jda;
 
-    private static final Logger logger = new Logger(HidekoBot.class);
+    private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(HidekoBot.class);
 
     public static void main(String[] args)
     {
 
         // load configuration
-        logger.log("Loading configuration...");
+        LOGGER.info("Loading configuration...");
         String configFilePath = Cache.getExecPath() + File.separator + "config.yml";
         ConfigurationSource configurationSource = new ConfigurationSource(configFilePath);
         configurationSource.initConfig();
         Cache.setConfigurationSource(configurationSource);
-        logger.log("Configuration loaded!");
+        LOGGER.info("Configuration loaded!");
 
         // load properties
-        logger.log("Loading properties...");
+        LOGGER.info("Loading properties...");
         PropertiesSource propertiesSource = new PropertiesSource();
         propertiesSource.load();
         Cache.setPropertiesSourceInstance(propertiesSource);
-        logger.log("Properties loaded!");
+        LOGGER.info("Properties loaded!");
 
         // check loaded bot token
         String botToken = Cache.getBotToken();
         if(botToken == null || botToken.isEmpty())
         {
-            logger.log("Invalid bot token!");
+            LOGGER.error("Invalid bot token!");
             shutdown();
             return;
         }
@@ -76,7 +78,7 @@ public class HidekoBot
             jda = jdaBuilder.build().awaitReady();
         } catch (Exception e)
         {
-            logger.log(e.getMessage()); // print the error message, omit the stack trace.
+            LOGGER.error(e.getMessage()); // print the error message, omit the stack trace.
             shutdown(); // if we failed connecting and authenticating, then quit.
         }
 
@@ -174,19 +176,19 @@ public class HidekoBot
         jda.getPresence().setStatus(OnlineStatus.ONLINE);
 
         // connect to database
-        logger.log("Connecting to database...");
+        LOGGER.info("Connecting to database...");
         String dbFilePath = Cache.getExecPath() + File.separator + "db.sqlite"; // in current directory
         DatabaseSource databaseSource = new DatabaseSource(dbFilePath);
         if(databaseSource.connect() && databaseSource.initDb())
         {
-            logger.log("Database connection initialized!");
+            LOGGER.info("Database connection initialized!");
             Cache.setDatabaseSourceInstance(databaseSource);
 
             // load data here...
 
-            logger.log("Database data loaded into memory!");
+            LOGGER.info("Database data loaded into memory!");
         } else {
-            logger.log("Error initializing database connection!");
+            LOGGER.error("Error initializing database connection!");
         }
 
         // start scheduled runnables
@@ -207,12 +209,12 @@ public class HidekoBot
         Cache.setStartupTime(LocalDateTime.now());
 
         // print the bot logo.
-        logger.log("\n\n" + logger.getLogo() + "\nv" + Cache.getBotVersion() + " - bot is ready!\n", 2);
+        LOGGER.info("\n\n{}\nv{} - bot is ready!\n", FormatUtil.getLogo(), Cache.getBotVersion());
 
 
         // log the invite-link to console so noob users can just click on it.
-        logger.log("Bot User ID: " + botUserId, 3);
-        logger.log("Invite Link: " + Cache.getInviteUrl(), 4);
+        LOGGER.info("Bot User ID: {}", botUserId);
+        LOGGER.info("Invite Link: {}", Cache.getInviteUrl());
 
     }
     public static JDA getAPI()
@@ -222,7 +224,7 @@ public class HidekoBot
 
     public static void shutdown()
     {
-        logger.log("WARNING! Shutting down!");
+        LOGGER.warn("WARNING! Shutting down!");
         if(jda != null) jda.shutdown();
         System.exit(0);
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/datasources/ConfigurationSource.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/datasources/ConfigurationSource.java
index d79695a..5ee0b6d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/datasources/ConfigurationSource.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/datasources/ConfigurationSource.java
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 package wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.datasources;
 
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 import org.yaml.snakeyaml.DumperOptions;
 import org.yaml.snakeyaml.Yaml;
 import org.yaml.snakeyaml.constructor.SafeConstructor;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.HidekoBot;
-import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.util.Logger;
 
 import java.io.*;
 import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
@@ -12,13 +13,12 @@ import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 public class ConfigurationSource
 {
     private final LinkedHashMap<String, Object> configurationEntries = new LinkedHashMap<>();
-    private final Logger logger;
+    private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(ConfigurationSource.class);
     private final String configFilePath;
 
     public ConfigurationSource(String configFilePath)
     {
         this.configFilePath = configFilePath;
-        logger = new Logger(getClass());
     }
 
     public void initConfig()
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public class ConfigurationSource
 
         if(internalConfigContents.isEmpty())
         {
-            logger.log("Error reading internal configuration!");
+            LOGGER.error("Error reading internal configuration!");
             HidekoBot.shutdown();
             return;
         }
@@ -49,8 +49,7 @@ public class ConfigurationSource
             // try to create config file
             try { fsConfigFile.createNewFile(); }
             catch (IOException e) {
-                logger.log("Error creating configuration file!");
-                logger.log(e.getMessage());
+                LOGGER.error("Error creating configuration file!", e);
                 HidekoBot.shutdown();
                 return;
             }
@@ -60,7 +59,7 @@ public class ConfigurationSource
         LinkedHashMap<String, Object> fsConfigContents = null; // map holding all file entries
         try (InputStream fsConfigStream = new FileInputStream(fsConfigFile))
         { fsConfigContents = fsConfigYaml.load(fsConfigStream); }
-        catch (IOException e) { logger.log(e.getMessage()); }
+        catch (IOException e) { LOGGER.error(e.getMessage()); }
 
 
         if(fsConfigContents == null) // if file contents are empty or corrupted...
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ public class ConfigurationSource
                 Yaml yaml = new Yaml(dumperOptions);
                 yaml.dump(filledEntries, missingKeysWriter);
             } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
-                logger.log(e.getMessage());
+                LOGGER.error(e.getMessage());
                 HidekoBot.shutdown();
                 return;
             }
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/datasources/PropertiesSource.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/datasources/PropertiesSource.java
index 0f22d38..b035b92 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/datasources/PropertiesSource.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/datasources/PropertiesSource.java
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 package wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.datasources;
 
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.HidekoBot;
-import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.util.Logger;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.InputStream;
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ public class PropertiesSource
 
     private Properties properties = null;
     private final String fileName = "default.properties";
-    private final Logger logger = new Logger(getClass());
+    private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(PropertiesSource.class);
 
     public void load()
     {
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ public class PropertiesSource
 
         }
         catch (IOException e) {
-            logger.log(e.getMessage());
+            LOGGER.error(e.getMessage());
             HidekoBot.shutdown();
             return;
         }
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/listeners/MessageLogger.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/listeners/MessageLogger.java
index a01b53c..67cc28f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/listeners/MessageLogger.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/listeners/MessageLogger.java
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ import net.dv8tion.jda.api.entities.channel.concrete.TextChannel;
 import net.dv8tion.jda.api.events.message.MessageReceivedEvent;
 import net.dv8tion.jda.api.hooks.ListenerAdapter;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
-import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.util.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 public class MessageLogger extends ListenerAdapter
 {
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ public class MessageLogger extends ListenerAdapter
     private static final String guildChannelFormat = "[%guild%] [#%channel%] %user%: %message%";
     private static final String dmFormat = "[DM] %user%: %message%";
 
-    private final Logger logger = new Logger(MessageLogger.class);
+    private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(MessageLogger.class);
 
     @Override
     public void onMessageReceived(@NotNull MessageReceivedEvent event)
@@ -42,13 +43,13 @@ public class MessageLogger extends ListenerAdapter
                 .replace("%user%", userName)
                 .replace("%message%", message);
 
-        logger.log(toLog);
+        LOGGER.info(toLog);
 
         if(!event.getMessage().getAttachments().isEmpty())
         {
             for(Message.Attachment atch : event.getMessage().getAttachments())
             {
-                logger.log(atch.getUrl());
+                LOGGER.info(atch.getUrl());
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/ExpiredMessageTask.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/ExpiredMessageTask.java
index 4196072..ed2fed4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/ExpiredMessageTask.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/ExpiredMessageTask.java
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 package wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.runnables;
 
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.Cache;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.datasources.DatabaseSource;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.util.CommandUtil;
-import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.util.Logger;
 
 import java.time.LocalDateTime;
 import java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter;
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ import java.util.List;
 public class ExpiredMessageTask implements Runnable {
 
     private final DateTimeFormatter formatter;
-    private final Logger logger;
+    private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(ExpiredMessageTask.class);
     private DatabaseSource databaseSource;
 
 
@@ -21,7 +22,6 @@ public class ExpiredMessageTask implements Runnable {
         String format = Cache.getExpiryTimestampFormat();
         formatter = DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern(format);
         databaseSource = Cache.getDatabaseSource();
-        logger = new Logger(getClass());
     }
 
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public class ExpiredMessageTask implements Runnable {
         for(String messageId : expiringMessages)
         {
 
-            if(Cache.isVerbose()) logger.log("expired check: " + messageId);
+            if(Cache.isVerbose()) LOGGER.info("expired check: {}", messageId);
 
             String expiryTimestamp = databaseSource.getQueuedExpiringMessageExpiryDate(messageId);
             if(expiryTimestamp == null || expiryTimestamp.equals("")) // if missing timestamp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public class ExpiredMessageTask implements Runnable {
             LocalDateTime expiryDate = LocalDateTime.parse(expiryTimestamp, formatter);
             if(now.isAfter(expiryDate))
             {
-                if(Cache.isVerbose()) logger.log("expired: " + messageId);
+                if(Cache.isVerbose()) LOGGER.info("expired: {}", messageId);
                 CommandUtil.disableExpired(messageId);
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/HeartBeatTask.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/HeartBeatTask.java
index 495ab58..58d3e72 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/HeartBeatTask.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/HeartBeatTask.java
@@ -10,10 +10,7 @@ import java.net.URL;
 
 public class HeartBeatTask implements Runnable
 {
-    private final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(HeartBeatTask.class);
-
-
-
+    private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(HeartBeatTask.class);
 
     @Override
     public void run()
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/CommandUtil.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/CommandUtil.java
index 5d25459..af683c7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/CommandUtil.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/CommandUtil.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.util;
 
+
 import net.dv8tion.jda.api.JDA;
 import net.dv8tion.jda.api.entities.Guild;
 import net.dv8tion.jda.api.entities.Message;
@@ -11,6 +12,8 @@ import net.dv8tion.jda.api.interactions.commands.Command;
 import net.dv8tion.jda.api.interactions.commands.build.CommandData;
 import net.dv8tion.jda.api.interactions.components.LayoutComponent;
 import net.dv8tion.jda.api.requests.RestAction;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.Cache;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.HidekoBot;
 import wtf.beatrice.hidekobot.datasources.DatabaseSource;
@@ -22,7 +25,7 @@ import java.util.List;
 public class CommandUtil
 {
 
-    private static final Logger logger = new Logger(CommandUtil.class);
+    private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger(CommandUtil.class);
 
     /**
      * Function to delete a message when a user clicks the "delete" button attached to that message.
@@ -133,13 +136,13 @@ public class CommandUtil
             }
         }
 
-        logger.log("Found " + registeredCommands.size() + " commands.");
+        LOGGER.info("Found {} commands.", registeredCommands.size());
 
         if(update)
         {
             // send updated command list.
             jdaInstance.updateCommands().addCommands(allCommands).queue();
-            logger.log("Commands updated. New total: " + allCommands.size() + ".");
+            LOGGER.info("Commands updated. New total: {}.", allCommands.size());
         }
     }
 
@@ -208,7 +211,7 @@ public class CommandUtil
         RestAction<Message> retrieveAction = textChannel.retrieveMessageById(messageId);
 
 
-        if(Cache.isVerbose()) logger.log("cleaning up: " + messageId);
+        if(Cache.isVerbose()) LOGGER.info("cleaning up: {}", messageId);
 
         retrieveAction.queue(
                 message -> {
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/FormatUtil.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/FormatUtil.java
index 9b73f65..5516107 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/FormatUtil.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/FormatUtil.java
@@ -12,6 +12,27 @@ import java.util.Arrays;
 public class FormatUtil
 {
 
+
+    // cosmetic string to print on startup.
+    private static final String LOGO =
+            "██╗░░██╗██╗██████╗░███████╗██╗░░██╗░█████╗░\n" +
+                    "██║░░██║██║██╔══██╗██╔════╝██║░██╔╝██╔══██╗\n" +
+                    "███████║██║██║░░██║█████╗░░█████═╝░██║░░██║\n" +
+                    "██╔══██║██║██║░░██║██╔══╝░░██╔═██╗░██║░░██║\n" +
+                    "██║░░██║██║██████╔╝███████╗██║░╚██╗╚█████╔╝\n" +
+                    "╚═╝░░╚═╝╚═╝╚═════╝░╚══════╝╚═╝░░╚═╝░╚════╝░";
+
+
+    /**
+     * Returns ASCII art saying the bot name.
+     *
+     * @return a String containing the logo
+     */
+    public static String getLogo()
+    {
+        return LOGO;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Generate a nicely formatted time-diff String that omits unnecessary data
      * (e.g. 0 days, 0 hours, 4 minutes, 32 seconds -> 4m 32s)
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/Logger.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/Logger.java
index 8d0ee79..77b3556 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/Logger.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/Logger.java
@@ -9,15 +9,6 @@ import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 public class Logger
 {
 
-    // cosmetic string to print on startup.
-    private String logo =
-            "██╗░░██╗██╗██████╗░███████╗██╗░░██╗░█████╗░\n" +
-            "██║░░██║██║██╔══██╗██╔════╝██║░██╔╝██╔══██╗\n" +
-            "███████║██║██║░░██║█████╗░░█████═╝░██║░░██║\n" +
-            "██╔══██║██║██║░░██║██╔══╝░░██╔═██╗░██║░░██║\n" +
-            "██║░░██║██║██████╔╝███████╗██║░╚██╗╚█████╔╝\n" +
-            "╚═╝░░╚═╝╚═╝╚═════╝░╚══════╝╚═╝░░╚═╝░╚════╝░";
-
     // objects that we need to have for a properly formatted message
     private String className;
     private final String format = "[%date% %time%] [%class%] %message%";
@@ -72,14 +63,5 @@ public class Logger
         System.out.println(message);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Returns ASCII art saying the bot name.
-     *
-     * @return a String containing the logo
-     */
-    public String getLogo()
-    {
-        return logo;
-    }
 
 }