RSO Feature: DE Metalheads

DE Metalheads on a group outing!

Conducted and Transcribed by Soph Shull

Edited by Julia Preston

The University of Delaware is home to hundreds of RSO’s (Registered Student Organizations) that allow students to express themselves through collective group interests and hobbies. One club in particular has caught The Setlist’s eye. This new club houses a wide range of unique and fun students, and we’re here to give you, dear reader, the precious details on the Delaware Metalheads. Strap in and be sure to attend a meeting!

Interview conducted on February 10th, 2026.

Hello everyone! My name is Soph, and we’re here with the Delaware Metalheads of the University of Delaware. If you guys would like to introduce yourselves, go ahead!

Kaiden: I am Kaiden Croissette. I am the treasurer/vice president, and the guy that does 50% of the work. 

Kaden: I’m Kaden Redlus, I’m the social media manager. I do 20% of the work.

Julia: My name is Julia Salazar. I am the president, and I do the sweet, sweet 30% of the work. 

That’s awesome! When did the first idea of Delaware Metalheads come to fruition?

Julia: In high school - I’m from D.C. - I was very involved in the local metal scene. When I came here, I was like, ‘Wow, everyone’s such a chud… why?’ My mom always told me, ‘Julia, you’ll make so many friends!’ But I never did. So I was like ‘I’m gonna buy friends.’ 

I thought, ‘What’s something that I’m interested in that other people might be into too?’ Then, I was talking to my mom on the phone, and she was like, ‘Julia, you should make a club.’ And that kind of how it happened. 

Kaden: When Julia came up to me about the club, she just randomly cornered me in Caesar Rodney and asked if I wanted to do it. I said ‘yes’ and that was fun. 

Kaiden: It was one of the scariest moments of my life. I was standing in line waiting for chicken nuggets, and I swear to God, Julia saw me from the other side of the room. I had a Ghost B.C. shirt on, and she honed in on me like a missile, and said, ‘Hey, you look like you listen to metal! Do you want to be in an RSO? Do you want to, like, be the treasurer?’ I said, ‘Yeah okay, sure. Sounds like a good deal.’ Now I do the club, and it’s a pretty sweet gig.

Julia: I just talk to random people. I’ve made some good friends by just waving people down- it works.

You seem like a very outgoing individual, so what are some ways you go about trying to get new members to join your club?

Julia: I just see people, and then I’m like, ‘Hey, you look cool, why don’t you come to my club?’ Last week I was walking back from water polo practice, and I saw a dude outside of Redding. It was pitch dark and I came out of nowhere, wearing all black, asking, ‘Hey, is that a Motörhead patch on your backpack?’ and he [gave me] the most scared look I’ve ever seen ‘cause I came up from behind. (Laughter). I stood there and waited for him to follow our Instagram.

Kaiden: I think that’s like a crime. 

From Left to Right: Julia (President), Kaiden (Treasurer/Vice President), and Kaden (Social Media) of the Delaware Metalheads Club.

As RSO leaders, what is one goal that you have for this club?

Kaiden: So definitely, our first initiative is to get the word out, because without enough people, it’s not going to be fun. The club’s meant to be a collaboration of many people with alternative culture or queer culture in mind. We’re trying to make a home for people that maybe don’t fit in, spread positivity, and listen to some banging tunes!

Kaden: One of the goals that we have set for ourselves is just getting people to consistently come to meetings. Now that we have more structure and we’re getting our name out there, I don’t think it’s going to be as big of an issue. We want to create a safe environment for alternative, queer, and all different kinds of people. 

Julia: University of Maryland has a metalheads club, and my goal is to be better than them. I know the whole board of their club, and have an inside rivalry with them. Also, we have to put on events that are better than their club’s Shell Fest.

I asked Julia why she founded the club, but what made the Ka(i)dens want to continue the club?

Kaiden: Part of the reason I stuck around for as long as I did is that I genuinely love music! I've wanted to be a musician since I was a kid, and I’ve been playing bass for ten years. My father and uncle were both musicians, and I've got my own band, Jackson’s Slick Slackin’ Jazz Ensemble. I’m in school for food science now, but I like being able to do something else I’m passionate about. Music always has a special place in my heart. You can do both. 

Kaden: I would mainly agree with most of [Kaiden’s] reasons. I’m a musician, and I've played guitar [for] eight to ten years now on and off. My dad, my brother, and my uncle are [also] all musicians, and I wanted to help create a club. I thought this was an awesome idea. 

What are some promises or incentives you have for new members that are joining?

Kaiden: The friends you make and the communities that you build may make your years on this planet more enjoyable. We can promise a loving and supportive community, we will hopefully introduce you to new music, and you can introduce us to yours! We’re always up for listening to new stuff, even if it's weird garbage music you found off the side of the road.

Julia: We’ll give you some good Thanksgiving stories!

What are some activities that you guys have done in the past?

Kaiden: We had an awesome time doing T-shirt bleaching, and we’ve made a bunch of cool metal logos. We watched this one movie from New Zealand about metal. 

Julia: Two New Zealand movies!

Kaiden: Yes, we like introducing each other to weird stuff we find vaguely related to metal, and saying, ‘You know what, we’ll see how this goes!’ And that’s usually how a lot of our meetings go, we just kind of throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks.

Kaden: I was not present for this, but we had a trip to the Fillmore in Maryland for Cannibal Corpse, Municipal Waste, and Full of Hell, which [was] awesome. Going to shows is one of the events we’ve had, and Cannibal Corpse puts on a really good show. 

Julia: I don’t know, I didn’t really appreciate their show. I think Municipal Waste was better than Cannibal Corpse at that show, but I don’t know if that was just me. 

Kaden: I’ve seen [Cannibal Corpse] twice.

Julia: I feel like Cannibal Corpse is better in recording than it is live.

So, do you guys engage in debates frequently?

(Collective laughter).

Kaden: Yes.

Julia: Occasionally.

Kaiden: It usually devolves into debates one time or another, which isn’t a bad thing!

Julia: Yeah, we have big opinions, and we’re not afraid to talk about them!

T-shirt bleaching is one of the many fun activities that can be found when you attend a DE Metalheads meeting!

How recently did you guys become an RSO?

Kaiden: The process to become an RSO was a little more complicated than we accounted for. I thought I could get it all done before December, and I was wrong. I spent the entire winter break emailing people, being like, ‘Oh God! What am I doing? What do I do now?’ The people we met with were very supportive, but yeah, there’s a lot of hoops to jump through. [Today] is our first official meeting, but we've been meeting unofficially for…

Kaden: … all of the fall semester.

Julia: I came up with this in like, the second week.

Kaiden: One way or another, we were going to meet anyway, but it’s nice to be official now. 

You guys come from a lot of different backgrounds being a freshman, sophomore, and junior each. How do you get along?

Julia: I’m very immature, and they put up with it. I appreciate you guys for putting up with my shenanigans sometimes.

Kaden: Both e-board members are very friendly people, and it’s not difficult to be friends. Other than when [Julia] hates on bands that are popular for being popular. 

Kaiden: Our relationship is basically, other Kaden and I are both adults. I’d like to think of myself as adult adjacent, just being over eighteen isn’t good enough to be an adult. Julia is living evidence of that. (Laughter). But that’s okay, because we love and support [her].

Julia: They’re my two gay dads!

Kaiden: We are essentially, and we’re very supportive of our they/them who is just out there. 

Kaden: It is good that she’s the face of the club, and that [Kaiden] and I work together on the admin, mostly [Kaiden]. 

Julia: Why’s it good that I’m the face?

Kaden: You’re definitely more friendly compared to us. The dynamic that the three of us have works very well together, especially when it comes to the club. 

Meet your metal heroes! (Middle: Eric Meyer from Dark Angel)

Just to wrap things up, do you have any final remarks?

Julia: If you are looking for friends and a very inclusive, inviting space, you should join us because, unless you like a band that I don’t, you’ll be included. (Laughter)

Kaden: We’re a very safe place for queer people, for fans of alternative culture, and that is why you should join. Also, we’re fans of any kind of music. You’re probably safer not being a fan of metal than being a fan of what Julia does not like!

Kaiden: So, I think what my associates are struggling to say here is that we are a very noncommittal, high energy group, but we have a lot of love in our hearts. It might be a little overwhelming, bring ear protection one hundred percent, but we would love to see all sorts of people join this club. 

Julia: Here are my final thoughts: come join Metal Club!