Brandon Rike

Brandon Rike is an American rock musician and a graphic designer, based in Columbus, Ohio. He is currently the creative director for TNSN DVSN (Tension Division,) a creative agency in Columbus, Ohio focused on serving the music industry.

Early life and education

Brandon Travis Rike was born on January 6, 1983 in Dayton, Ohio.

He attended Dixie High School, New Lebanon, Ohio. He then studied Visual Communications and Graphic Design at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio.

Career as a musician

MindSet/Dead Poetic

Rike started off as a musician. Rike, along with Zach Miles, Brandon Rike, and Chad Shellabarger, formed the band, MindSet, in 1997. Rike was 13 at the time. The self-taught artists formed the band in their local Church and their first performance was their Middle School's annual "Talent Show." Later they changed the band's name to Dead Poetic. Rike designed the band's logo and t-shirts.

The band was later joined by drummer Jesse Sprinkle (of Burning Daylight, and Transparent fame.) 

Dead Poetic released three albums and one Best of album, with the final album, Vices, in 2006. The band remained active through 2007, though Rike has announced that the band will release the final album on their contract.

At Night We Strike

Rike teamed up with Ryan Sprague, and Lucas Starr (formerly of Terminal, and Texas-based metalcore band, Oh, Sleeper.) On March 15, 2013, they released their debut singler, "Your Own Skin." Rike is the vocalist, with Starr on guitar and Sprague on the drums.

Career as a designer

In 1999, Rike formed Dark Collar, a design agency for the music industry, under which he works with bands to design logos, T-shirts, and merchandise for the bands. Since 2002, he has been working as a freelance graphic designer.

In 2017, he founded TNSN DVSN (Tension Division,) a Columbus based design agency for the music industry. He serves as a partner and the creative director for the agency.

Over the years, independently and with TNSN DVSN, Rike has provided creative services to various well-known bands such as Twenty One Pilots, Skrillex, StarSet, Korn, Ned, Angels and Airway, Weezer, Grandson, Thirty Seconds To Mars, The Smashing Pumpkins, Blink-182, and Underoath.