www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 18-24, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 33 MUSIC From his small bedroom filled with music posters on the wall, a computer, a microphone and instruments, 26-year-old, Jonathan Ordiano—artistically known as Kaefan—produces alternative cumbia music and writes songs inspired by horror films. Two recently released tracks, “Psicosis” and “Sudno,” introduce his debut EP, El Baile Gothico, which contains a total of five pieces. “Cumbia brings a lot of dance and joy through resistance,” Kaefan says. He describes his music as a gothic and psychedelic experience and portrays his fashion sense as a “gothic cowboy.” By day Kaefan is a tech specialist. He is a self-taught musician, who also learned how to use music editing software on his own. “I only had one piano class when I was 10, but it wasn’t as accessible to me because my parents couldn’t take me so I never went. And I wanted to learn to play drums, but it was expensive,” Kaefan says. His parents immigrated to Salinas from Puebla, Mexico before Kaefan was born. They worked in the fields picking strawberries and Kaefan would also join them. He attended CSU Monterey Bay, where he graduated with a bachelors in computer science and is currently working as an IT specialist at a local nonprofit. From working in the fields, helping in his family businesses and selling anything he no longer needed, Kaefan would save money for instruments and other tools to make music. “‘Psicosis’ is a psychedelic take on anxiety and a spooky way of me showing how stress can manifest through hallucinations and fantasies,” he says. The track gives listeners an upbeat song to move the feet and hips, while dancing with the ghosts alongside lyrics “Voy sintiendo las psicosis, ya andan bailando los fantasmas. Voy bailando las psicosis.” “Sudno” brings back the ’80s techno cumbia, as Kaefan sings about protecting his loved ones and forgetting all the world troubles through dancing and making music until his last breath. “No dejaré que el mal entre…no dejaré que ellos nunca te hagan daño otra vez,” he sings. Although Kaefan is a solo singer, he also has four other friends throughout Monterey County who join him in performances playing the drums, electric guitar, bass guitar and congos. “I’m creating my own version of cumbia, perfect for some hard-core foot stomping,” he says. The EP is set to release on Aug. 7. KAEFAN First Cuts A rising cumbia artist from East Salinas releases tracks ahead of his debut EP. By Royvi Hernandez Kaefan, who describes his style as “gothic cowboy,” writes music in his Salinas bedroom, which is wallpapered with music posters. His debut EP is set to come out on Aug. 7. FRESH. LOCAL. TASTY. Fisherman’s Wharf FRESHEST SEAFOOD with PANORAMIC VIEWS Open Daily at 11:30am • At the end of Fisherman’s Wharf #1 www.rockfishmonterey.com • 831.324.4375 sport coats soft coats outerwear shirting sweaters trousers carmel plaza carmel-by-the-sea new arrivals Lunch & Dinner 100 AVIATION WAY WATSONVILLE | 831-722-7077 Open for Lunch and Dinner | 10:30am-2:30pm All Day Menu | 4:30-9pm Dinner Menu Closed Tuesdays CARMEL VALLEY ATHLETIC CLUB 27300 Rancho San Carlos Rd CARMEL 831-624-2737 | Open Wed-Sun Lunch and dinner WOODYSMONTEREYAIRPORT.COM MONTEREY REGIONAL AIRPORT 200 Fred Kane Drive MONTEREY 831-373-1232 | Open 9am-9pm Every Day Opening June 15th in Watsonville! DEL MESA CARMEL 500 Del Mesa Carmel CARMEL VALLEY 831-624-1854 | Open Wed-Sun lunch and dinner
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