Ked: Bleeding Into the NYC Music Scene

Written and Interviewed by Ashley Lavalle

Photography by Sophia Keefe

Creative Director, Production Manager: Mark Bluemle

Production Assistant and Videography: Jake Pranian

Creative Assistance, “Bloodwork,” Styling by Sophia Querrazzi

Heart Button Up Designed by Catalina Torres

MUA by Kindra Kirsch

PA2, BTS: Jazzi Almestia

Prop Master: Lee Mazzio

An artist who experiments with his music and style, Ked is one to look out for. While his sound varies, it always manages to consistently rip one's heart out, leaving you lying on the floor as every single emotion bleeds out. His ability to write exceptionally true songs, not only to him but to his fanbase as well, is absolutely spectacular, causing the listener to only yearn for more. If you’re someone who loves music that is both genuine and fluid, I highly recommend you take a listen to Ked’s frighteningly remarkable discography.

We caught up with the artist about his recent EP, “i’ll still be missing you.” Keep reading to find out the mystery behind Merwin's sound.

Your EP “i’ll still be missing you” just recently came out and it features a song by the same title as well as four others that you had already previously released. What was your reason for combining them all into one EP?

I hadn't really planned to make an EP, but I think when you're in a place in your life where you're experiencing a lot of intense emotions, it's just hard to stop writing. I dropped most of the songs as singles first before realizing it would be easier to just release them as a collection, especially because they're all written about the same situation.

Is there a reason that these songs are in a specific order in the EP?

Hmm. Yes and no. I don't have any exact reason other than that's the order I felt they should be listened to. I think if you're listening to all of the songs at once, that's the order that makes the most sense to me.

Do you have a favorite song on the EP? And a favorite song in general that you’ve released?

The fans have really been liking "bullshit" so far, and I love that one a lot too, but my favorite is definitely "company". It's the first one I wrote and the lyrics just flowed right out of me since I was in such a fresh state of emotion. It was the most painful to write though, but I think that's what makes me like it so much. It's very honest.

When you listen to your EP, each song seems to seamlessly transition into the next, both storywise and musically-wise. What would you, personally, describe your sound as?

This is tough! I've struggled with finding a genre title that fits. I guess the closest thing I could say is somewhere along the lines of indie-pop with indie-rock elements popping up every so often. I even dipped into a bit of jazz with "low again". I just love experimenting with genre and sound, I don't ever want to get too locked into one thing. I like to keep it fresh.

The raw honesty and emotion are incredibly apparent in your songs, especially in ‘low again’. Being able to get to a place of such comfortability that you’re able to share this piece of yourself with others within your music is so admirable. Overall, it seems to be very personal. How do you foster all of your thoughts and creativity while simultaneously ensuring you’re not stepping over your boundaries?

Thank you, that's so nice to hear. I don't really have any boundaries when it comes to songwriting. I like to think of it as taking a photograph of what my brain sounded like in the moment I wrote the song. In "low again" I was so tired of feeling so bad about myself, but also wasn't ready to feel good yet, so I wanted to find a gray area of feeling really down but being okay with it and letting myself feel that way.

Do you have a particular process at all when it comes to songwriting?

It's definitely evolved over the years. Nowadays I tend to start with poems that I write or journal entries, because then I'm not so worried about rhyming and the technicality of it all, and I can just focus on what I'm feeling. Then I take the things that feel the most authentic and I tweak them to fit into a track I've produced or a chord progression I like. Every song is different though, and I'm sure I'll continue to experiment with the way I write

Are there any musicians or bands that have inspired you and how you create your music?

Absolutely. So so many. I love the beats that Vampire Weekend makes and I love Fiona Apple's lyricism. There are a billion more musicians I could name that I've taken inspiration from, but the list would be never-ending. I definitely took a lot of inspiration from Olivia Rodrigo specifically for these songs. When it comes to breakup songs, she's a beast.

Going off of that, what songs are currently on repeat for you?

I've been really vibing with O. Rod.'s "GUTS" ever since it came out, but who hasn't? Also, I really like Jack Antonoff's production style, so I've been listening to Taylor and Lana a lot just because he produces a lot of their stuff.

Not only are you a singer and songwriter, but you also play multiple instruments (the ones I’ve seen being guitar and piano). Do you have a favorite instrument and why?

Well, I grew up in a very musical household- my dad runs an orchestra and my sister just finished her master's in composition. I was forced to take piano lessons and music theory ever since I was able to walk, so keyboards of any kind have a special place in my heart. I only started teaching myself guitar during lockdown a few years ago, and it was so hard for me to learn. But like everyone, I had a lot of time on my hands in 2020, so I practiced obsessively. I remember having terrible blisters on all of my fingers for the first few months because I hadn't built up the calluses yet.

Before we end, I have to ask- is there anything you plan to release in the future? A new EP, new songs, etc., or are you just going with the flow?

Now that I'm back at school, I don't have quite as much time on my hands, but I always find moments here and there to work on something. I have a song called ‘as a feather’ that comes out October 10th, and it’s my favorite one I've ever made, so I’m really excited for people to hear it. There's other stuff I'm working on too, but I'll keep the rest under wraps for now.

To hear more from Ked, check out both his Spotify and social media links below!

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kedmerwin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kedmerwin/

Written and Interviewed by Ashley Lavalle

Photography: Sophia Keefe

Creative Director, Production Manager: Mark Bluemle

Production Assistant, BTS, and Videography: Jake Pranian

Creative Assistance, “Bloodwork,” Styling: Sophia Querrazzi

Heart Button Up Designed by Catalina Torres

MUA by Kindra Kirsch

PA2, BTS: Jazzi Almestia

Prop Master: Lee Mazzio

A Glimpse Into Raegan’s 'Animated Mind’

Interviewed and Written by Ami Klinghoffer

Photography by Sophia Keefe

Production Assistance by Lucy Anderson

Singer, songwriter, and producer, Raegan has been steadily acquiring a fan base on TikTok – which now exceeds 70 thousand followers – since her song, Tim Burton, went viral in 2022. Her unparalleled music video snippets captivate viewers as she juxtaposes her soft, feminine aesthetic with dark imagery of blood and gore, complementing the eerie themes present in her songs. The multi-talented artist is most popular for her remixes of well-known hits, such as “Demons” by Doja Cat and “What Was I Made For” by Billie Eilish. I got the opportunity to learn more about the NYC-based singer’s creative process and her plans for releasing new music.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, I’m Raegan, I'm a 21-year-old singer-songwriter and producer based in NYC. I

write and produce all my music, and my songs are literally my mind in a sonic form.

I like to experiment with all different types of sounds and genres. I grew up doing

musical theater, so I’m inspired by cinematic and theatrical atmospheres.

So far, I’ve released TIM BURTON, STALKER, HI MY NAME IS, STOCKHOLM,

and WALTZ, but there are lots more to come (an EP ;)). stream my music anywhere under

RAEGAN and follow me @raegancomplex on TikTok, ig, or yt 🖤🖤

You have such a unique sound. What genre would you consider your music?

Honestly, I didn’t have the answer to this question for a long time. But after six years

of making music, I’ve come to the conclusion that it can be categorized as Alt-Pop.

Who would you say are your biggest musical influences?

Honestly, I’d say musical theater, I grew up not only doing theater but also listening

to Broadway soundtracks on a loop. When I became a teenager, I started to discover

Marina and the diamonds and Tyler the Creator, which helped shape my sound

and who I am today.

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?

Tyler, the Creator, is definitely number one on my list... I feel like we’d have a lot of

fun and creative magic in a studio session. I also would love to collaborate with

literally any of the artists I listen to daily, like Melanie Martinez, Tierra Whack,

BROCKHAMPTON, Rex Orange County (to name a few).

Can you talk a bit about what goes into producing your songs? How did you get

into learning how to produce your music?

I learned how to produce music in my junior year of high school when I was 16.

When I make music, I create worlds and atmospheres... and I always felt like no

producer could ever imitate what I was hearing in my mind and no one could see

my overall visions. So, I just started making my beats and learned through experience.

You have a unique dark feminine aesthetic in your music and

visuals. How did you come to formulate this style?

Honestly, that’s just who I am. I exaggerate my aesthetic and present myself to the

world how I see myself in the mirror.

I read that you used to be involved in musical theater. How does this history affect your music career? Is acting still on your radar?

Yes, I act every time I get on stage and perform my songs. My goal is to create

productions and scenes with every song and allow the audience to enter the

animated world of my mind. I call myself an introverted extrovert, which I define as

being extremely outgoing only with people I am comfortable with. When I’m around

strangers, I'm usually pretty quiet and shy, so I’ve had to create the character of “all

caps RAEGAN,” who is extremely uninhibited and extravagant.

Can you tell us anything about your new song you’ve been dropping hints about

on social media, “Mean”?

MEAN is finally releasing on September 27th!! This single is an introduction to my

upcoming EP, ‘FUCK RAEGAN,’ which is also dropping this year. Essentially, 'MEAN'

weaves a tale of empowerment and desire, reminding us that beneath the surface

of conflict lies a passion waiting to be ignited. This is my favorite project yet, and I’m so excited for you all to hear it. These are some of my favorite songs I’ve made so far, and they represent who I am right now.

What would you say your biggest musical accomplishments have been thus far,

and what do you hope to accomplish in the next five years?

Everyday, I grow as an artist and a person. My biggest accomplishment right now is my work

ethic. I'm learning that talent is never enough, and neither is working hard; you need both at

100% at all times to make a difference in this world. In the next five years, I see myself where I deserve to be.

Interviewed and Written by Ami Klinghoffer

Photography by Sophia Keefe

Production Assistance by Lucy Anderson

FINAL GIRLS: The All-Ghoul Group is Killing the NJ Metal Scene

FINAL GIRLS is an all-ghouls metal band based in North New Jersey. Originally established in 2020 by bassist Sofia Albanese as a punk band, later in 2022 to be rebranded as a metal band with new members now with Sofia Demasi (drums), Ashleigh Hernandez (Guitar), and Casey Cruz (Vocals). They contain a unique blend of hardcore and death metal with a heavy gothic influence here to create a cross-breed of genres you’ve never heard before. Their various influences, including 90’s death metal, goth, new wave, groove metal, grindcore, beatdown, hardcore punk, and more, helped pave the way for pioneering a new haunting genre of blood-chilling horror-themed metal. We got the opportunity to chat with the group about their journey with metal music and being in a space that is made up of predominantly male groups.

How did you land on the name Final Girls?

The band was originally formed by bassist Sofia Albanese, and the name was of her choosing. She’s always been a big fan of horror and resonated with the idea of the Final Girl trope being badass and something that could be a good name for the group. It’s not as much a nod to our gender but more so a nod to the trope and horror.

Being an all-girl band in a genre that is stereotypically seen to stem from a male-dominated culture, how has that affected your experience in the music industry? Do you ever feel ostracized from the scene?

More often than not, people will only be able to relate us to other women in music and not as much to musicians in the genre. Of course, we’re inspired by women, but for the most part, we wish to be seen as a metal band playing with other bands and not to be booked as a novelty act. For the most part, our experience in the NJ scene has been positive. Every once in a while, there will be someone who is not always the nicest, but we’re lucky to have such a supportive community. We’ve assimilated and established ourselves here in NJ, but we’ve found in other places/parts of the country, we are not as accepted or taken as seriously. We want to get rid of the shock factor. Of course, we’re proud to be women in music, but our goal is to have women better integrated into the music scene as a whole, where being a woman is not a selling factor, and we are seen as musicians before a group of girls.

How did you all first get into metal music? Did you grow up listening to it or find it on your own?

Casey: “I watched 2000’s WWE, to be honest. Lots of rock and heavy metal that I later explored, but metal came into my life as a wee little las. Afterward, I started listening to a lot of Evanescence and got into some European bands.”

Sofia A. (Bass): “I grew up on a lot of 80’s Heavy Metal, Glam, Motorhead, Sabbath, etc., that was shown to me by my dad. I was pretty much force-fed it. I most definitely started listening to much heavier stuff as Final Girls progressed, and from there, I’ve refined my taste.”

Sofia D. (Drums): “Growing up, I had a lot of musical influence from my dad that got me into prog metal. In early middle school, I signed up for a Modern Metal course at a School of Rock and found Lamb of God. A turning point for sure- I love this shit.”

Ash: “I discovered metal music on my own through SoundCloud. I started with metalcore/post-hardcore/deathcore when I was 13; I found it on social media because my family didn’t listen to that stuff.”

What artists do you get inspiration from?

Image Influences: Misfits, Crypta, Alice Cooper, Motley Crue, The Cramps, Type O Negative.

Writing Influences: Arch Enemy, As I Lay Dying, Lamb of God, Gojira, Knocked Loose, Carcass, Pig Destroyer, Crypta.

Describe your music as a color or set of colors.

Purple, Black, and Red. Maybe a little green.

What do you want your fans to call themselves?

To be honest, we don’t know; the fans can come up with it. “Ghouls” is cool, but it’s gendered. It would be goofy if they called themselves Final Goons. We can't lie.

Describe your band as a group Halloween costume.

That’s a good question, to be honest. We’d like to give you a more serious answer, but to be truthful, It’s Five Nights at Freddy’s. Casey is Freddy, Ash is Chica, Sofia A. is Foxy, and Sofia D. is Bonnie. We’re happy this way.

Written and Interviewed by Ashley Murphy

Photography by @vicktoriaklm and @critialmomentphotos