Kye Merrick

01/23/2025

🚫 You think you’re in control.

It starts as a simple guide—

how to influence others without them realizing it.

But as you read, the question shifts.

Are you the one pulling the strings…
or being pulled?

The answer might surprise you.

Keep reading—if you dare.

Control is an art, not a science.

01/22/2025

Have you ever caught your reflection and felt like a stranger was staring back at you? We spend so much time running, escaping, avoiding. But the mirror knows the truth—and eventually, we have to face it. This is for anyone carrying the weight of their past, looking for the courage to step forward. The choice is yours.

Read my latest piece and let me know what you think.

Confronting Our Fears, Breaking Free from the Past, and Finding the Strength to Change

01/21/2025

We’ve all felt it—the pull to keep up, to stay busy, to chase the next thing. But what if slowing down is the key to something deeper? I wrote this to explore what we’ve lost in the rush... and how we can find it again. 👇👇👇

How Stillness, Patience, and Depth Can Reclaim What We’ve Lost in a World Obsessed with Speed

01/20/2025

TikTok was banned and then restored, but the impact lingers. With users flocking to RedNote, we're seeing a shift in digital connection. Is decentralization the key to reclaiming authenticity online? Let’s explore the future.

The Future of Social Media Lies in Decentralization, Responsibility, and Authenticity

01/19/2025

The world feels divided, trust is shattered, and it’s hard to know who to believe anymore. But we’re not powerless. Together, we can find balance, fight for what matters, and rebuild the trust we’ve lost. If you’ve been feeling this way, this is for you. Let’s talk.

Exploring the rise of populism, the erosion of trust, and the enduring lessons from history and literature in a polarized world.

01/17/2025

Are we truly standing for justice—or just shouting over each other? In this essay, I reflect on boundaries, democracy, and the complexity of what it means to be human. 🌱 Let’s explore how we can break free from the cycles of division and judgment together.

How the battle for morality risks crossing boundaries, silencing dissent, and undermining the complexity that makes us human.

01/17/2025

Some of you have followed my work for years; others have known me since I was a kid. But how much do you really know about the person behind the art? For the first time, I’m pulling back the curtain to share my story—what shaped me, the struggles I’ve faced, and the values that drive everything I create. I’m hoping to open up even more over the next year, and this is just the beginning. Whether you’ve known me all my life or just stumbled across my work, this is the most honest and personal thing I’ve ever written. I hope it resonates.

After years of letting my art speak for itself, I’m ready to share the story behind the work—the journey, values, and rituals that shape everything I do.

01/16/2025

Are you struggling with criticism of your writing or creative work?

Critique can feel overwhelming, especially when it’s hard to tell the difference between helpful feedback and harmful criticism. My latest piece, a reflective essay with elements of personal narrative, dives into the art of giving and receiving critique with humility and grace. Drawing from my own experiences, I explore how vulnerability and discernment can transform how we approach feedback—helping us grow as writers, artists, and people.

I hope it soothes any worries you have and offers a fresh perspective on handling feedback.

Humility, Grace, and Growth as a Writer and Artist

01/15/2025

Wearing the Hat: Authenticity in a Trend-Driven World

In this essay, I dive into the growing tension between artistic exploration and cultural authenticity, particularly in country music. With personal reflections and real-world examples, I examine the importance of respecting a genre’s roots before adopting its aesthetics. From Morgan Wallen’s small-town authenticity to Post Malone’s thoughtful approach, I contrast meaningful engagement with the superficial trend-chasing of some pop artists. This is a call for curiosity, respect, and connection in music and beyond.

Subscribe to my Substack for essays that explore art, music, and the societal dynamics shaping creativity today.

Navigating Authenticity in Musical Exploration

01/11/2025

Thank You for Supporting Kye Merrick

Hey everyone,

First off, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s recently started following my Kye Merrick page here on Facebook. For those who don’t know, Kye Merrick is my new artist alias—the name I’ll be going by in the realm of music from now on. Many of you know me as Corey, but I thought I’d take a moment to explain the meaning behind this name.

Kye Merrick is a play on the word chimeric, which refers to something made up of diverse or seemingly incompatible elements—a hybrid of sorts. To me, it symbolizes how I bring together different influences, ideas, and styles in my music. It also reflects the creative duality in my work—melding poetry, storytelling, and sound into something unique. I chose the name as a way to represent the kind of art I strive to create: layered, complex, and deeply personal.

I also want to share some news about where I’m headed. While my time with The Outdividuals was an incredible and educational journey—collaborating with my co-writer Max Pollack and exploring so many creative possibilities—I’ve decided it’s time to focus on my solo work. It’s been a long time coming, and after years of collaborative projects, I feel like it’s the right moment to truly hone in on my own creative expression.

As I step into this new chapter, Max is also starting an exciting journey of his own. He’s building up his YouTube channel, Lesson Progression, where he’s sharing incredibly unique and effective music theory lessons. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful his methods are, especially for guitar players who are struggling to break through barriers in their development. His insights are genuinely game-changing for any developing musician, and I believe what he’s doing is going to turn into something great for so many artists.

I’d love for you to show him some love and subscribe to his channel:

https://youtube.com/?si=bTJNhzTVeBVvJc7y.

Let’s help him grow and make a difference in the music community!

As for me, I’ll be prioritizing my YouTube channel as well, focusing on sharing more original music that blends poetry, social commentary, and creativity to offer meaning and depth. With TikTok likely shutting down in the U.S. soon, it feels like the right time to expand my focus. I’ll still be doing the occasional open verse and collaboration, but I want to create work that resonates on a deeper level.

You can join me on my journey by subscribing here:

https://youtube.com/?si=Pa8UcdY3o1BpYeMk.

And I want to hear from you! What kind of themes or topics would you love to see explored in the upcoming music? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to start a conversation and connect with you.

Thank you all so much for your support—it truly means the world to me as I take these next steps. Let’s build something meaningful together.

Much love,
Corey (a.k.a. Kye Merrick)

Owner of Couchlock Studios Frontman for The Outdividuals As seen on TikTok: Open Verses, Covers, Duets and Original Music.

09/30/2024

Consciousness, to me, isn’t merely a product of the brain; it’s a deeper connection to a universal transmission that transcends our individual experiences. As a musician, I find that music is the ultimate expression of this connection. Through melodies and rhythms, I explore the mysteries of existence, using sound to articulate emotions and thoughts that words often fail to capture.

Music allows me to bridge the gap between subjective perception and objective reality. Each note I play or song I write is a reflection of my journey, a way to connect with others and the universe. I believe that our choices resonate across countless possibilities, shaping our realities in profound ways.

In my pursuit of understanding, I embrace the complexities of life while finding solace in the beauty of music. It is my way of expressing gratitude for what I know and exploring the infinite unknowns that inspire me to create.

01/03/2024

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/rich-men-north-of-richmond/1707409748?i=1707409749

Album · 2023 · 1 Song

12/18/2023

Controlled Transition: How Powers Manipulate Change to Stay in Control

Introduction:
Controlled transition is a trick used by those in power to make it look like things are changing, but really, they’re staying in charge. It’s like a game where they control who’s playing and what the rules are. They make it seem like we have a say, but it’s just a way to keep us in check.

Strategies of Controlled Transition:

1. Puppet Opposition:
• What it is: Imagine a puppet show. The ruling power creates a party that seems different but is secretly under their control.
• How it works: This puppet party gives us the feeling of choice, but it’s really just a way for the ruling power to keep pulling the strings.

2. Strategic Reform:
• What it is: It’s like changing the color of a car but not the engine. The rulers make small changes on the surface while still running the show.
• How it works: These changes make it look like progress, but the important stuff remains the same, and the rulers keep control.

3. Co-opting Genuine Opposition:
• What it is: The rulers sneak into groups that genuinely want change and make them work for the rulers without us knowing.
• How it works: It’s like having a friend who acts like they’re on your side but is secretly helping someone else.

4. Divide and Rule:
• What it is: Imagine a group trying to work together, but the rulers make them fight among themselves.
• How it works: If the rulers can keep the opposition fighting, they won’t be strong enough to challenge the rulers’ control.

5. Electoral Manipulation:
• What it is: It’s like picking who plays in a game and changing the rules to make sure you win.
• How it works: By controlling elections, the rulers can make sure only those who won’t challenge them get into power.

6. Media Influence:
• What it is: Think of news as a story. The rulers change the story to make us believe what they want.
• How it works: By controlling what we hear and see, the rulers can make us think what they want us to think.

7. Constitutional Changes:
• What it is: It’s like changing the rules of a game so you can keep playing and winning forever.
• How it works: Rulers change the laws to give themselves more power and stay in control without us realizing.

8. Selective Opposition Empowerment:
• What it is: The rulers support only certain groups that won’t challenge them much.
• How it works: By backing only specific opposition, the rulers make it seem like there’s a choice while still keeping control.

These strategies are like a game played by those in power to make us think things are changing while they stay in charge. It’s important to see through these tricks and understand how we’re being guided without our full awareness.

Level up, friends.

12/11/2023

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/i-o-bright-side-and-dark-side-mixes/1712314837

Album · 2023 · 24 Songs

12/07/2023

Getting ready to drop a new podcast series in the coming week.