Meet Raeden Gibran | Artist & Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Raeden Gibran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raeden, what principle do you value most?
The value that matters most to me is equity. For me, equity is about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or resources, has access to fair opportunities and the ability to thrive. At WAV LLC, this principle is woven into our business model to create a more balanced and just system for music creators.

Equity isn’t just about fair payment—it’s about creating a space where underrepresented artists can have control over their work and their impact. By providing artists with these tools, we’re leveling the playing field and fostering a more inclusive and diverse music industry. I believe that building a system rooted in fairness and empowerment is the key to long-term success and meaningful change.

What should our readers know about your business?
WAVCARDS operates at the intersection of tech, music, and gaming, promoting community, equity, and music discovery while providing an additional revenue stream for music artists. What sets us apart is our commitment to addressing the devaluation of music in the digital streaming age. I’m incredibly proud of the community of artists we’ve built who share our mission of revaluing music, and I’m excited to help artists and music lovers connect in the physical space through innovative technology.

I started WAV as a thesis project during my senior year of college, and after graduating, I decided to pursue it full-time. I believe businesses exist to solve problems, and I saw a significant issue with how music monetization was impacting both artists and the broader music community. While it was easy to feel passionate about this issue, starting a business for the first time has produced many unknowns. Disrupting an industry and driving positive change is a challenging process, but those challenges have shaped the product into something the community truly needs.

Through each iteration, I’ve consulted with artists, industry professionals, and customers to adapt WAVCARDS based on their insights. It’s impossible to please everyone, but it’s not impossible to listen to everyone. By staying open to feedback and fostering innovation, creating WAVCARDS has been a powerful learning experience—one I’m deeply grateful for.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ann Arbor is one of my favorite places to explore in Michigan. It offers many beautiful outdoor spaces, like Nichols Arboretum and Bandemer Park. One of my favorite activities is packing a picnic and spending the day at one of these parks, enjoying a good book, listening to music, and having great conversations with friends. If you’re visiting Ann Arbor, you can’t miss Frita Batidos, a Cuban street food restaurant downtown. Be sure to try the churros and a refreshing batido!

I love exploring cities through music, and luckily, Ann Arbor has a vibrant music scene filled with talented artists. One of my favorite spots is Rabbit Hole, where you’ll find incredibly creative and energetic DJs, all in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to music artists. Despite facing a challenging music market and coming up after the “golden age” of the industry, these artists continue to be vulnerable and channel that vulnerability into their art. Music doesn’t tell you how to feel, but it has a way of making you feel less alone in your emotions. Unfortunately, more and more people are hesitant to pursue careers in music, understandably fearing that they won’t be able to make a sustainable living.

I want to recognize all the artists, poets, songwriters, producers, and engineers who, despite the current climate, keep pushing forward for the sake of their art. It can be a discouraging landscape, but it’s those who don’t give up — who continue to give us the gift of music — that deserve to be appreciated.

Website: https://wavcards.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wavcards/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@wavcards?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Image Credits
Raeden Gibran