Bluekeys Magazine was an independent “anything-goes” art zine based in Austin, Texas and New York City. We featured artists big and small from all over the place, but admittedly we had a soft spot for our Texan sweethearts and New York wizards. Each print issue featured submissions, interviews, articles, and games sure to generate a good time.
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The zine was created by Miles Ellisor and Peyton Priest in July 2020 simply cuz they were bored during lockdown and had nothing better to do. In the following years, the team has grew to 20 peas in a multi-city pod.
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What did all these small green vegetables do in that pod, you may ask? Well over the course of four ish years, we:
released five full-length print issues (80-90 pages each)
released ten print mini zines (8 pages each + poster)
created and sold a multitude of merch items like handmade shirts and buttons, and also stickers printed from the internet! #shoutsout stickeryou.com
put on over 20 events ranging from shows with bands and vendors (we book bands playing their 100th show and bands playing their 1st show), a film festival, a three-day music festival, a zine workshop and even a kickball tournament (that was awesome)
did a lot of talking and meeting and planning and hanging out :P
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Anyways—prior to the establishment of Bluekeys, neither Miles nor Peyton had any experience in design, business, booking, or really anything remotely related to zines or running one. Hell we didn’t even know the term “zine” yet! (But isn’t that kinda the wonderful charming thing about zines)
With that all being said though, the hope here at Bluekeys is that yall feel empowered (buzz word we know—but we mean it!) to start those dream projects you’ve been putting off out of fears of failing or not being “good enough” or not knowing what you’re doing. Simply put: GO OUT AND DO IT!!!!
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In October of 2024, Miles decided to close the blue doors and flush the keys (haha). After four and a half years, Miles had felt the team as a whole had grown out of Bluekeys and that it was time to start new projects. We (the whole team) are so so grateful for all the wonderful times with Bluekeys and we’re really excited to keep up with each other’s creative endeavors as well as everyone who contributed to Bluekeys via shows, submissions or vending! Thanks 4 everything — yall rock.
What was this whole thing…? Glad u asked!
us doing our thing and vending at a show B)
(photos by our very own Joaquin Lewis)
Peyton (L) and Miles (R) in Kindergarten circa 2009 presumably working on what would become the first issue of Bluekeys
meeeeet the teeeeam
meeeeet the teeeeam
Here was our roster at the time of departure. We will always Life Laugh Love each other 4ever and ever.
Miles Ellisor — head of print & design, mgmt, booking, writing, social media, website
Mason Jones — head of tech, mgmt, video
Joaquin Lewis — head of promotions, mgmt, booking
Peyton Priest — design
Madelynn Niles — head of writing
Cora Green — writing
Humberto Ochoa — design
Rid Ott — writing
Madison Bickerton — merch, design, writing
Eisley Hull — promotions
Marisol Gonzalez — writing, design
Chloe Moyer — merch, design
Scarlett Milling — writing, design
Hannah Fulkerson — booking
Kara Wachsmann — writing
Edie Birkholz — writing, design
Zach Hartl — writing
Max Allen — design
Naomi Brady — writing
Toren Dennie — writing, video
