New Jersey's mall goth metalcore prince Eric Raven has returned with a new single, fresh off his recent move to Seattle.
We sat down to discuss his new single, "Cease Transmission," his new home, and his roots in New Jersey hardcore. Read more below.
It's not common for an act to be the outlier in every room they enter, but New Jersey seems to have fostered that sort of innovation since punk's dawn (e.g., Misfits, MCR, etc.). Why do you think that is, and what has been your experience performing as Eric Raven in that regard?
Being from New Jersey pushes originality. There are so many great bands in the scene, and the ones who are truly themselves can stand out. It's a beautiful craft that demands authenticity. I feel people from Jersey are unapologetically themselves, too, and there's no need not to be. I feel like I carry the spirit of my home state in every room I'm in.
Tell us about the recent move to Seattle. What brought you out there? What are some similarities and differences compared to the East Coast?
Love brought me out west. I've been in a relationship for a little over a year now, and it felt right for us to move in together. What I find similar here and on the East Coast is that art is a great connector. It brings people from every walk of life together, and it looks very similar everywhere I go. Lots of smiles, a lot of laughs, and good times all around. The goth scene here is also really cool. Coast to coast, people want to dance.
Tell us about the new single.
"Cease Transmission" is my call to action. It's a call to change our society for the better and prevent further atrocities.
The time for thoughts and prayers is over, and this track is a relentless, unforgiving, and powerful response to being human targets. I am fed up with war. I am mourning families being separated and our society as a whole becoming jaded and desensitized by the constant generational trauma that rolls down the hill.
Let's start at the beginning. On July 26, 2026, my partner, some friends, and I were attending the Bite of Seattle food festival when the event ended due to a shooting at Seattle Center. We heard the shots clearly, and everyone attending the festival ran for their lives. Unfortunately, innocent bystanders were killed, and a two-year-old was shot in the crossfire. The panic of hundreds, maybe thousands, of people screaming and running for their lives is imprinted on everyone who was there that day to witness the shooting.
Two days later, I channeled these feelings of aggression and sadness into a song calling out those who can make the proper changes to prevent further violence from happening.
Violence is the result of systemic wrongdoing. I have lost friends to gun violence. I have lost friends to fentanyl overdoses. I've been close to men who suffer horribly from PTSD because they fought in the Middle East. Our current administration is making access to mental health care more difficult. Our administration fails us on countless fronts, and violence is the result.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill recently stated, "It is easier to get an AR-15 in this country than it is to get an abortion," which says a lot about our administration's priorities.
We need real change. People are struggling, and it is only getting harder.
What are some bands or artists you've encountered so far in the Pacific Northwest? Any recommendations?
Recently, I've played with some great bands in California. Shout-out to Xiomoura, A November Morning, State of Reliance, Twin Victim, Whokilledxix, and Centrifugial Force Machine. I'll be playing with God Togue and The Private Eye on September 26 at the Funhouse in Seattle.
I've also gotten to check out some other cool bands, like Guilt and Impertinence. I'm excited to see more goth acts and punk bands in the area.
Where can we find the new single? Is there a new record attached to it?
"Cease Transmission" is streaming on all platforms via RTF Records. This year, we've been gearing up to release my debut full-length album. The singles that have already come out, along with the ones still to come, will all be part of the new record.
This title, this record, and the plans to come are a culmination of the years put into this project. It's for the fans and the community we have built together. This record is for people finding their way and for those who are frustrated with the way things are. Every track feels very personal to me and my life.
This record is the best music I've made, and I can thank Gabe, my co-collaborator, and everyone in my life for making it happen.
Do you have any touring plans on deck?
Possibly the West Coast in the fall. Definitely a full U.S. tour in 2027.
Any final thoughts?
To present a problem, I also must present a solution. First, for venues and events, we need private security, weapons screening, and trained staff to keep people safe and having a good time. That system works. It's not policing or escalating.
The big-picture solution is harder, but it must be done. We need to fix our healthcare system and school system. We need to provide help to the homeless in our country with fresh food, shelter, and water. We need to protect, not remove, immigrants by abolishing ICE and its cruel detention centers across the country. We need to hold abusers accountable. We need to end the forever war and cease aid to people committing genocide.
The billionaires in this country are the ones depleting our resources. The tyranny needs to end, and we must come together for our neighbors. People are fed up with the lie of the "American Dream." Teachers need funding and protection to teach America's history, especially its mistakes, so we don't repeat them.
We need to protect the teaching of Black history, queer history, women's sovereignty, and Indigenous history. We need protection and funding for women's health. More gender-affirming care for our youth. More art, more community spaces. More inclusion, not exclusion.
In my travels across the country, I have found that the happiest people are the ones with a strong community: others they can depend on and those who can depend on them. Whether it's the punk scene in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, or the hardcore community in New Jersey, we need to band together instead of pushing each other apart.
Keep using your voices because we all have the power to make a change. We will end this cycle of abuse. We will cease their transmissions.
***
Eric Raven on social media: Instagram
Tagged: eric raven
