About Me
Hello! I'm Ruby [she/her] and this is my little corner on the internet.
I'm 19 years old, from Florida but currently living in Rochester, New York. Since I was little I've always had a fascination with making things, and was experimenting with various software very early on. It started as just playing around with Windows customization options, but it would eventually blossom into setting up Linux (or now BSD) desktops and servers, building Hackintosh systems, and more recently web development. I chose to build this website as a platform to share everything I'm working on in one place, without the uncertainty of third party services.
Music
All downloads are provided free of charge with no DRM, assuming credit is given if used in any personal projects, or commercial products.
Solo
Metraxen - Sunsoak (01/19/2024)
Sunsoak
Sunsoak is a return to the more organic IDM sound of previous Metraxen releases. It was created during my last few months in Florida, and it taught me a lot about processing field recordings and introducing more texture to my music.
Tracklist
- 01 - Morning After
- 02 - Knit
- 03 - Treetones
- 04 - Brain Smoother
- 05 - Raindrops
- 06 - Bridge
Additional Credits
- Mastered by Alex Schlatweiler.
Metraxen - Ritual (05/12/2023)
Ritual
The earliest project file on this EP was created a little over two years before the eventual release. Approaching more bass music and glitch hop territory, this departure from the normal Metraxen sound served as a major learning experience for more experimental and bass heavy production.
Tracklist
- 01 - Aceyn
- 02 - Ritual
- 03 - Breathe
- 04 - Twilight
- 05 - Heuristic
- 06 - Coming Home
Additional Credits
- Album art by Ozzy's Shed.
Metraxen - Glass City (08/26/2022)
Glass City
This EP was made while I was very inspired by the simplicity in the sound design of the earlier AFX releases. I was also trying out a new DAW at the time, called Bitwig Studio, so most of the sounds were made using built-in devices.
Tracklist
- 01 - Glass City
- 02 - Indigo
- 03 - Under the Street Lights
Metraxen - November (Single) (03/11/2022)
November
I think the mix is a little bit rough on this one in hindsight, but I have really learned some cool things about songwriting and vocal chops on this one. It remains one of my favorite tracks to date.
Metraxen - Citrus (Single) (01/20/2022)
Citrus
This one was made while reaquanting myself in FL Studio, I thought it was cool sounding so I used it as the launch of my Metraxen project "Iridology".
Metraxen - Full Moon EP (10/16/2020)
Full Moon
The first Metraxen release. The Metraxen name was (and still is) used for more "alternative" and experimental sound design, as opposed to the more EDM influenced music I was releasing as PCNERD at the time.
Tracklist
- 01 - Approaching Fludosa
- 02 - Closure
- 03 - Full Moon
Show More
Derweft - Volume One (08/12/2020)
Derweft (Volume One)
This beat tape was made when I was giving AMD Hackintosh a try. At this point, most of my production tools were pirated, making the operating system change more difficult. Because of this, I challenged myself to make the most of an Ableton Live trial and no external plugins. I had about 90 days to make this, and I learned a lot about how to properly use the tools I had. I also vastly improved my sampling process thanks to a few members in a hip-hop discord server I was in at the time.
Tracklist
- 01 - Intro
- 02 - Dreamers of Dreams
- 03 - Keep You
Samples: Veela - Keeping you Accountable
- 04 - Lost Memories
Samples: The Grand Theft Auto III Theme, by Craig Conner and Stuart Ross
- 05 - Crystal Reserve
- 06 - Pipeline
- 07 - Hollowed Woods
- 08 - No Mercy
Samples: Danny Hensworth - Mr. Money Man
- 09 - Liminal
Samples: Nine Inch Nails - The Frail
PCNERD - The Xenia Contract (06/11/2020)
The Xenia Contract
This was my final release under the PCNERD name. It was a pretty big milestone in my music production journey, it was my second time releasing a longer format cohesive project, and I feel like it's when I finally started to get "good" at writing full songs.
Tracklist
- 01 - Halcyon
- 02 - Neglect
- 03 - Relapse
- 04 - Dysphoria
- 05 - Silver
- 06 - Collapse
- 07 - The Xenia Contract
- 08 - The Xenia Contract, Pt. 2
PCNERD - The Ones That Got Away (05/16/2020)
The Ones That Got Away
A small collection of various tracks that never got a release on streaming.
Tracklist
- 01 - Dilemma (from Archives One)
- 02 - Arcadia (from Archives One)
- 03 - Tsuki Sayu Yoru (PCNERD Bootleg)
- 04 - Cross Section (2020)
PCNERD - Acid [Archives] (06/27/2019)
Acid (Archives)
This EP laid the foundation for the IDM-y sound I would later explore in various Metraxen projects.
Tracklist
- 01 - 12 PM
- 02 - Acid I
- 03 - Acid II
- 04 - g.mb32.l10
- 05 - g.mb64.l07
- 06 - 1 AM
PCNERD - _dissonance (05/21/2018)
_dissonance
Misspelled as "desinence" on streaming platforms, I should've spell-checked it before releasing it. This was made and released while I was 13. It was not only my first full-length release, but also my first release on any streaming platform, so regardless of poor naming, it's pretty important to me.
Tracklist
- 01 - Someplace New
- 02 - Dissonance*
- 03 - Fighting with Angels in a Toxic Warzone
- 04 - Again
- 05 - Awaken
- 06 - Descending (Interlude)
- 07 - Down & Dirty
- 08 - Fighting with Devils on a Dirty Battleground
- 09 - Interlude: Fall
- 10 - E [short n rough]
- 11 - F I
- 12 - F II
PCNERD - Abnormalities (01/12/2018)
Abnormalities
This was my first release fully produced in Ableton Live, and the beginnings of my more experimental sound design and songwriting style.
Tracklist
- 01 - Mutator
- 02 - 26c
- 03 - Hypnotize
- 04 - Something Different
- 05 - Unimportant Business
- 06 - Untitled Track 23
PCNERD - Heckin (11/07/2017)
Heckin
Another victim of my younger-self's poor naming skills, this was made when I first started playing with Ableton Live, a tool I would go on to use almost exclusively for my own music until late 2023. I think this was also where my deadmau5 inspiration was most evident.
Tracklist
- 01 - Chord 03
- 02 - Sanctuary (misspelled as "Sancuary" on streaming services, lol.)
- 03 - Sunrise
- 04 - New Beginnings (misspelled as "New Beginings on streaming services.")
- 05 - Crushed
PCNERD - Archives: One (09/11/2017)
Archives: One
The oldest release I still have access to, I would've just turned 13 when I released it. This was around the time I was still learning the basics of music production, and following FL Studio tutorials from YouTube channels like FrankJavCee and AcesToAces.
Tracklist
- 01 - Aftermath
- 02 - Dilemma
- 03 - Arcadia
Collaborative
Shifting - Eternal Salvation and the Damned Flesh of Perfection (11/25/2022)
Eternal Salvation and the Damned Flesh of Perfection
The first release from me and Jack Kaidanovsky's project, Shifting. It was recorded, mixed, and mastered from my bedroom on the same day.
Tracklist
- 01 - Locked Door
- 02 - Eternal Salvation and the Damned Flesh of Perfection
Credits
- Ruby J. Casey - Writing, Engineering
- Jack Kaidanovsky - Writing, Guitar, Vocals
Alex Schlatweiler - Refract (Metraxen Remix) (05/17/2022)
Refract (Metraxen Remix)
My first release on a label other than my own, and my first officially released remix. It was originally just a submission for Alex's remix competition, but I was generously invited to have it featured on the official remix EP.
Additional Credits
- Original song by Alex Schlatweiler.
- Released on Cyber Vibe Records.
Design
Visual design projects I've worked on.
Cyber Vibe Records (2022 - Present)
Cover Art
I've made two cover art templates for the electronic music label, Cyber Vibe Records. They're designed to be easily modifiable and re-usable for multiple releases. I did my best to capture the ethereal Cyber Vibe sound in a visual form, while still keeping the brand identity strong and present.
Preset Pack
When I was asked to make the cover art for Alex Schlatweiler's Diva preset pack, I already had an idea of what I wanted it to look like. The sounds in the pack were very open and spacey sounding, while still having the grit and texture of an analog synth. I made use of noise and organic shapes to convey that visually.
Ignition Garage (2022)
Concept
Ignition Garage was initially an idea my friend, Jack Kaidanovsky had, to build a garage focused on car customization and performance, with a YouTube presence akin to other 2016-era YouTube automotive channels. The idea was further developed into two separate divisions, Ignition Garage for the physical location and work, then Ignition Club for the community and social media presence.
Brand
The logo is a play on the name Ignition garage, I used the I as a keyhole in an ignition switch, and used the G to represent the turning motion. This allowed us to make a clean and readable logo that was adaptable and even animatable.
Video
Unfortunately due to financial limitations at the time, neither of us owned a car. So, instead we decided to start experimenting with the idea within the context of video games. We only got one video publicly released, but it was filmed by Kaidanovsky and I in the physics simulation, BeamNG.Drive. I then edited it to the beat of cowbell phonk, (a genre of music popular in the street car scene).
Permatrip Records (2021)
Brand
I worked with my friend and colleague, Jack Kaidanovsky, to create a brand for our experimental record label, Permatrip. We wanted a simple but gritty design, that represents the darkness of the music released on the label. I helped make the logo and various branding elements.
Banners
These were designed to represent the faded and messy aesthetic of the Permatrip sound. We accomplished this by drowning them in noise, and using different blending modes to create text that interacted with its environment.
Shifting (2019 - Present)
Brand
Jack Kaidanovsky and I were brainstorming ideas for our band, Shifting, all the way back in middle school, but only having two members it was a little difficult to get it off the ground before I had moved out of state. Our sound had many influences but we like to call it "swamp rock". We both worked together on the logo, cover art, and photography.
Art
Photography
Articles
Various writings I've published.
01/01/2021 - The Lack of Trans Representation in Media
It's no secret that trans representation is often overlooked in today's world. While we're slowly improving, there's still a long road ahead of us. Trans people are still often forgotten about or extremely misrepresented in today's media...
11/05/2020 - Why My Website Is So Simple
As you may have noticed if you have been following me for a while, my website has been through loads of changes, designs, and setups. Today, however, it's classic minimalism, and may even seem a little pointless at the moment. That's because I decided to go back to where I started, writing the HTML and CSS myself...
Other Projects
Other things I'm working on, or have published.
Music Production YouTube Channel
YouTube
For as long as I've had access to the internet I've hosted different kinds of YouTube channels to varying degrees of success. My most recent endeavor is a channel focused on sharing my music production knowledge. I've found many resources online teaching bad habits, or taking too long to get to the point. I try my best to be concise and accurate, while sharing less commonly known techniques and ideas.
"Ruby's Internet Corner" Website
This Website
This is the newest evolution of my personal website, designed to host everything I've created and published to the internet. I've had a passion for various forms of content creation since my early childhood, unfortunately a lot of my earlier work has been lost to time and poor file management.
The website was designed to be lightweight, and readable. I want it to stand on its own without leaning on any other services, and I think I've mostly accomplished that. It's written entirely in plain HTML and CSS, no JavaScript or backend programming is used here.
If you're interested you can read more about my philosophy here.
Kreator (Post-Install Script)
Kreator
While I was still experimenting with Linux desktops, I created an install script to install my usual packages, and set up some default configuration from a command line interface. It was originally written as a simple shell script, but was eventually moved to Python. The Python update was designed to be easily configurable for anyone to list their own packages in configuration files.
Unfortunately the default i3 config included relies on a download from my old website, and is no longer available. However you can easily include your own configs by editing the "configs.py" file, and replacing the references to "pcnerd19.com" with your own config files.
Social Media
My only public facing social media account is @rubyjcxsey on Instagram, if you'd like to reach out to me for any reason my email is ruby@cxsey.com.