The project of multi-instrumentalist Jay Maike, Deth Rali blends shoegaze, synthpop and darkwave into immersive music that creates a universe of its own. Maike’s fascination with fantasy worlds, melancholy, and vaporwave aesthetics help set the table for their brand new album “Ruby’s Castle Island” (Mean World/Distant Planet). Often described as a “rock opera for fantasy nerds”, Deth Rali’s commitment to theatrical, avant-garde performances have earned them critical acclaim and adoration from their “hi-vis”-clad audiences. Maike’s willingness to experiment across genres help create the band’s fluid identity and a sound that is truly their own. Inspired by the cinematic worlds of Studio Ghibli, Deth Rali’s new album “Ruby’s Castle Island” tells the story of a little girl named Ruby who leaves her sheltered life in search of adventure. It’s a story told in vignettes, and feels evocative of 80’s synth pop, 90’s shoegaze, and early 00’s indie pop. Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Deth Rali formed during the pandemic as the solo project of songwriter Jay Maike. After releasing his heart-string evoking 2021 synth-pop EP ‘Light Levels’ EP, Maike joined forces with multi-instrumentalist Wes Hughes, vocalist Jamie Fox (Snarklet), bassist and label manager Hunter Bates, and drummer Nathan Rodriguez to start creating new music, which would eventually be the demos for “Ruby’s Castle Island” together in 2023.