Nite Ritual is a solo project founded by Rafael Reyes (Vampire, Latin Lovers), later augmented by local rapper Amer the Gamer.
“Killwave, occultwave, [and] shadowave are all outlets that I use to expose and celebrate fragments of who I am, may it be my vulnerability or, at times, my ego,” says Reyes, a self-described “cholo goth” musician whose numerous projects revolve around his autobiographical troika of invented genres.
Beginning with the gloomy, esoteric dance pop of performance-art band Baptism of Thieves, Reyes further defined his macabre, confessional aesthetic into occultwave pop-goth trio Vampire, with guitarist Ian Dosland. After bassist Daniel Leigh Ross, aka Vikti, announced his intention to quit the band, they played their final show on August 5, 2013, at the Casbah.
Reyes chose to concentrate on his other band projects like Nite Ritual, Sons of the Moon with Pall Jenkins (Black Heart Procession), Prayers (with electronic artist Dave Parley of Latin Lovers), and Ermavip with Vampire guitarist Ian Dosland.