No Omega

Hello and thank you for your time. Who is answering the questions ? (Oscar contacted me later and added some informations) Daniel, bass and backie vocals 

 Can you tell a little bit about "No Omega" ? 

Who is playing in the band ? How long are you active ? 

 We're Oscar on guitar, Andreas on vocals, Victor on drums, and me. The others started the band early 2010 I guess, and I got in the band 2011. 

  

Just for personal interest: Who of you is vegan, vegetarian and/or straight edge? (I don't divide into this categorys, but I'm curious)  

 Me and Oscar are both vegan and straigt edge, and Andreas and Victor are vegetarian and really not straight edge.  

Is there any special story behind your bandlogo? It doesn't look like an Omega, does it ? 

Daniel: Well, it was designed by this guy who was doing the first batch of merch for us. It's really long ago, but I guess it's exactly what it looks like - and upside-down cross on top of a feminism/womens symbol. It's mainly just a symbol for our band, kind of representing some values we stand for in some way, but also just something to put our name to. 

Oscar: Actually it is an omega-symbol ( Ω ) but where a horizontal line is drawn at the bottom of the circle. Both to make it together with the upside-down-cross , a somewhat "unique" symbol, but also if you just combine the omega-symbol with an upside-down-cross - the way we did - you get the no omega-symbol...  

How evolved your music style? Was there a concept at the beginning? Oscar and Fredrik (original bassplayer) wanted to play darker hardcore, back when Rise and Fall were getting big, and started this band out of their old Guns Up! esque band. It was kinda people who'd been playing different styles of metal and punk wanting to combine dark gloomy hardcore with a lot of melodic sensibilities and try to create something new.

 What about your local scene? Many shows? 

 Me (and until he moved away, Oscar) are heavily involved in a booking group called Stockholm Straight Edge, doing drug free all ages DIY hardcore shows in our town. I think our scen at the moment is quite good, if you except the problem that a lot of guys in bands have stopped coming out to shows, yet expecting us to book their bands. Otherwise, the mood on shows is good, we get quite good bands up here, and the bands in general in Stockholm right now are awesome as hell. Sore Eyelids, This Gift is a Curse, Grieved, Medea, Disembarked, and many many more.  

You toured a lot in the last years. What do you like about touring? Everything. Shows, seeing new places, meeting new people, hanging out with some of my best friends, seeing bands, sitting in the van listening to music for hours every day. New food, new sodas, new ways of getting miserable and let down over and over. What's not to love, but each and every of those experiences?  

What's more important for you: The lyrics or the music? 

I can't really say. I mean, the music is probably more important just becuase without it, it wouldn't be music. But without the lyrics, how would we get the messages across, and get to acutally experience more fine emotions and thoughts, and not just "RAGE" or "saaaad". 

  How do you write your songs? Is there at first a riff or a text? Who writes your lyrics?  

The songs are most of the time either written by Oscar, Andreas or me at home, and then brought to the practice room to be put together and made into actual songs. Other times, someone just have one piece of music, and then we jam out a song from it. It's really never set in stone how we do it. Oscar writes a lot of lyrics, and Andreas do some songs, and now I've started contributing some lyrics as well.  

Is there any relation between your LP and the movie "Metropolis" from Fritz Lang?  

Not more than it involves the same kind of themes. The dystopic city, called Metropolis, which I suppose is a quite widespread reference. I remember Oscar talked about it when we were in school together, and we were piecing the album together thematically, but the songs themselves haven't really anything to do with the movie.  

What do you think about the modern society?  

Wack, really, haha. Not much to say, it's just wrecked and shitty and probably never going back from that.  

In you song "Lives Worth" you end with "hope we all die young". Just why?  

Those lyrics were written by Fredrik, who wasn't in the band when we recorded the song. I'm not a hundred percent sure about what he actually means, in his own mind. But I guess it's just referring to how people generally give the impression of caring to much about longevity or whatever you wanna call it. Just, kind of "you behave like you want everything to end and die, so I hope it all comes true".  

Can you explain the lyrics from "Heavy Rain" ? Especially this part "the only way for us to be happy again is for the world to end". How do you see this "end"?  

Daniel: Oscar wrote that song, and I can't really talk too much about it. It's more or less just an observation of society and modern civilization in general, probably. Sorry... 

Oscar: I just wanted to explain a bit what i was thinking of when i wrote "the only way for us to be happy again is for the world to end" ... Daniel talking about "this end" is fine, but i wasn't so much literally thinking of what the end might look like (except of course ecological collapse) , but it was both seeing how our species will stop at nothing... it seems like we actually want to destroy our world - like that in it self is accomplishing something, filling some sort of need. But also it's like a response or a questioning of myself and other people like me who are constantly negative to society. The way we say that everything sucks and that people are destroying the world etc. It's like the only way for us to be happy again, is if the rest of our species/society proves us right by destroying the world. Maybe then would we be happy again, when we are proven right? That sucks... so that's why i wrote those lyrics. A lot of my lyrics are about all my inner conflicts.  

You are all vegans and vegetarians. So you don't want to harm a living beeing. What do you think about people, who smoke and don't give a fuck about others arround. Especialy at small venues, where hardcore shows often take place.

 I personally hate it. It's one of the most disrespectful things you can do. Not much to say, except - if you blow smoke in my face at a show, especially if I'm playing, pumped with adrenaline, beware. Hehe. Also, vegans who smoke, really? Animal testing, look it up.  

How is your vegtarian/vegan lifestyle conecteted with your political views?  

To me, everything is connected. Veganism, being drugfree, anarchism, feminism, antiracism, gay rights, all of it. If you think things through, you can easily cut out all negative actions and ways in your life, just as long as you stop thinking too much about your own comfortability and narrow way of behaving. The way society is built, and how people act, is very crooked and shitty, and there's really only one way to change it. By what you as a person do.  

You have this awesome patch with Emma Goldmann. Can you explain, how you came up with the idea for this?  

It's actually a stupid inside joke between me and Oscar, which turned out kind of great. He's always had this patch with Emma Goldman and the classic quote "it's not my revolution if I can't dance to it" or whatever. And I used to joke about how we should turn all shows into No Omega shows, and that it wasn't a show if No Omega weren't playing. So, you do the math, haha!  

Is Emma Goldmann an inspiration for you and your music?

Well, she was super cool and controversial and stood for great things, so sure!  

Emma Goldmann was one of the most important feminists in the USA. How do you see the male dominance in hardcore?

  It's not something I like, but I don't really see a way of getting more girls interested in hardcore per se. They probably have better things to do than listen to d-beat and breakdowns. But what we really need is more space for women to express themselves, take up space, be up on the stage and be taken seriously.  

How do you see moshing/violent dancing?

 I do it, don't know... if it's under controlled forms, it good. If it's crowd punching or the way to beatdown guys can clear a room kicking everyone in the face, it's not very cool. 

  

Do you use your band as a medium to spread your ideas of a classfree society?

  I wouldn't say class war is a predominent theme in our songs or our message, but like I said, it's all weaved into everything else we stand for. We need to see an end to capitalism, the class system and anything related for the world to work.  

Do you give speech between the songs? Do you explain your lyrics?  

We never really talk about our songs live, but we (mostly me, Andreas isn't too comfortable talking live) like to adress some issues at shows. I sometimes try to think of things related to the country, city, or show itself, that I like to point out real quick. Too much chatter, like at a Self Defense show, would kind of kill the momentum of our sets.  

What does D.I.Y. mean to you?  

To just do everything yourself, if it is what makes you comfortable. If you want control of your band, and want things to run a certain way, do it yourself.  

What do you think about the decrease of passionate hardcore bands, which are very into politics and don't just try to sell as much CD's as possible? 

Dunno, there's still bands who do the whole band thing properly. As long as people have the opporunity to see real bands, who don't print six different tshirt designs for their first show, I'm not too worried. If you want real music, and to see real hardcore bands, there's allways the chance!  

What do you think about the reuinon of Refused?  

First I was stoked, but after I saw them on their second "secret" show, I was kinda done with it. Heard many tired things about them, and when Dennis was on the cover of a men's lifestyle magazine, I was really done. Amazing band though, who got me into hardcore when I was 17. 

Thanks for the interview. Any shout outs/last words?  

We're going out on the road with This Gift is a Curse in april, they are sincerely one of the coolest bands around, please make sure you check them out!

Rape Revenge

 

Hello and thank you for doing this interview with me.

Who is answering this questions ?

My name is Samantha and I do vocals for a band called Rape Revenge.

Can you please tell me some stuff about your band ? How long do you play

together and who is in the band? Where are you mostly from ?

Rape Revenge has been around, in varying incarnations, for about 3 years? It’s

hard to keep track. All members are currently living in Calgary Alberta,

although I am from Edmonton Alberta, Canada.

Can you tell us a lil' bit about your local scene ? Many vegan edge

people around ? Many shows ?

The local scene here is… interesting. We are not really well liked in our

own home town. We are the pc fucks that everyone find annoying I guess? We

do have some people who support us and who are really awesome. The scene

is really fortunate to have a lot of young folks coming out, which is great.

There are a few vegan edge folks, but we are dwindling in numbers. Shows

are hit or miss. One month we have 7 venues running and everything is

awesome, and then the next month we are down to the hot dog restaurant and

a dirty run down skate shack.

Where have you played 'till now ? Any favourite locations or places you

realy enjoyed ?

We were really lucky to get to tour the western coast in US last summer,

it was amazing. Honestly, I was surprised how much I loved LA. The folks

we met down there is Cudahay are such strong, bad ass, latino punks and

they inspired me to no end. I also really liked playing in Peterborough

Ontario, sometimes small town punks blow my mind, because they have to

fight to have anything happen there, to bring anything cool, and it often

results in really humble, hard working and dedicated people.

Can you explain how you are conected with straight edge. How important is

it four you as a band ? And what do you label as drugs ?

I cannot speak for the other members, but for me personally straight edge

is really important to me. I love my body and I love the challenge of

learning to love and accept myself without numbness. It is not always fun,

I feel nerdy and left out, and I feel nervous in social situations

sometimes. My own insecurities are sharp and in clear view without a

drink in hand. But I value the learning that comes from that.

I would rather not answer your second question, because I think that kind

of hair splitting is really divisive and shitty. What fits for me as a

straight edge individual may not be the same for you, and that is ok. I am

not a rock star, but I possess a certain level or priviledge or power being

someone in a band. I would rather not use that ‘power’ to make rules and

regulations.

Do you watch TV ?

Sometimes. My job is really stressful and I deal with heavy shit. Sometimes

I want to just turn my brain off for an hour. I love XFiles (the show, but

the band is also rad). I also am a sucker for sketch comedy. If you watch

tv you are still cool and punk. That said, we are able to watch tv online

now without all the bullshit commercials, so I think it’s a lot easier to

stomach these days.

How is your veganism conected with your other believes ?

Being against the oppression of others as a feminist and as an anarchist,

is undeniably connected to veganism.

What do you think about D.I.Y ?

I think it's awesome and really important. I am also a zine writer, so I

can really relate to the joy of creating something powerful and awesome

with your own hands (and the stolen services of a self-serve copy shop

chain).

In my opinion it's great to see a vegan edge band, that's into queer and

feminist politics. What do you think about the male domination in the

hardcore and punk-scene ?

It's a total bummer, but it's also not a surprise. Being a punk doesn’t

mean you are exempt from misogyny, from rape culture, from male privilege. In

fact sometimes hardcore seems to me as a just a big macho celebration of

male rage and anger. I find this aspect boring and tired. Say something I

haven’t heard before. I wanna see more guys writing songs about the

challenge of always fitting the masculine role, or of guys struggling to

stand up to their friends when they support rape culture of homophobia. Men

have a really important and challenging role to play in the fight against

patriarchy.

Can you please explain to someone, who is not very into feminist and/or

queer struggles, why there is still need for a radical feminist attitude.

Honestly I could, but I am not sure it would be worth my time. If someone

doesn’t want to hear what I have to say I don’t really need to waste my

energy trying to fix or change them. If they want to learn about the

experience of women and queers they should take the initiative themselves. The

facts are out there for why we need to continue with the feminist struggle,

you just need to look. I guess the most important reason I can think for

feminism is that everyone is miserable under patriarchy, including men. We

are all fucked over by rigid gender roles, in fact men may experience more

of that then women. It's ok for a woman to be like a man, because men are

awesome, but for a guy to wear make up or like cooking or just express

emotion is shunned intensely because then he is a woman, and a woman is the

worst thing you can be in a patriarchy.

What do you think about moshing ? Isn't it an expression of our machismo

culture ? The typical behaviour of men ?

Who knows man. I try to figure out my stance on this all the time. I love

freedom and expression and all that, but I also am a small woman who can’t

participate sometimes. I guess just do what you want but don’t fuck up

other people’s ability to do what they want?

What do you think about the hardline movement ?

It's a bummer dude. A bunch of white straight dudes telling other people

what to do with their lives? Sounds familiar…. Oh yeah, it’s just another

reincarnation of capitalist patriarchal bullshit.

In your song „Stunted“ you scream „All that has kept me here is made of

air.“. Can you explain this verse.

This was a lyric collaboratively written by myself and the ex guitarist of

RR, Jesse. He is a really strong individual who wanted to express how we

are all heald back by insecurities, but a culture that teaches us to hate

ourselves. These restraints are not due to our own shortfalls, but

entirely created by our socialization. This could relate to the guys that

feel a need to be macho and unemotional and thus suffer in isolation, or

the woman who feels a need to dumb herself down or cater to others needs

and thus is dissatisfied and frustrated. This can relate to kids of color

who receive sub par support from teachers in schools, to people with

disabilities who are denied a sexuality. These are all social constructs.

These are chains made of air.

What's your feeling about prostitution and the porn industry ?

My current job is actually as a counselor for sex workers. It's taught me

a fucking ton about sex work. When I got into feminism I was totally

interested in „the sex work question“ of whether or not it was feminist and

ok or not. So I decided to listen to sex workers. I read books and zines

and blogs by sex workers, and they were all telling me that it was a lot

more complex than just a yes or no answer. We love to have concrete

stances on things, because we think that is was makes us strong, but that

is just no how life works.

Sex workers are an incredibly diverse group of people working in an

incredibly diverse field. There are street level sex workers, and yes

these folks often struggle with addiction and poverty and experience a lot

of violence. But did you know that only represents about 10% of sex

workers in north America? The other 90% are escorts, working indoors,

usually meeting clients online or through an escort agency where they do

intense screenings of clients. These ladies are making thousands of

dollars a week, they are doing well, they are managing their money and

living it up. They are living outside of the 9-5, often able to better be

home for their kids of pursue their studies or make art because they only

have to work a fraction of the time while making way more money than they

ever could working in a mall of at a bar. And if you told these women they

were oppressed they would tell you to give your head a shake.

I guess what I am trying to say is that sometimes sex work sucks and

sometimes it rules (maybe like any other job). One factor that makes it

suck more, and makes it more dangerous is criminalization. Sex work in

Canada is technically legal, but talking about it, doing it in your own

place, and hiring a bodyguard or driver aren’t (this is mostly the case in

America too). This means sex workers on the street can’t talk to their

potential clients because they could be arrested, so they have to jump into

their cars and THEN talk about condoms and prices, while the dude has her

in his car and is driving. Not safe.

But even if these laws changed, stigma still does so much damage. So many

sex workers die each year and no one gives a fuck. Sex workers are seen as

asking for it, and this is bullshit, hurting everyone.

Do you give speech on your shows ? Do you explain your lyrics ?

I do talk a lot at shows. I try to be humble. I try not to rant and use

up people’s times. When I talk at shows, I want it to be an offering. I

am offering you my viewpoint, my experience, my story, and you can take it

or leave it. I am not here to change anyone, people can only do that for

themselves. But I am saying things that are not always heard in the

mainstream, and I am outing myself so all the other outsiders know they are

not alone, and I think that is important. This act of speaking at shows is

really scary and draining. I struggle with my own mental health, with my

own insecurities, so sometimes I just don’t feel ok to talk at shows, but a

majority of the times I can do it. It is not always well received, but it

is not really about the reception. It is an act of occupation, for a queer

metis woman to speak at a show filled with straight white men. I am taking

space that we all just assume is theirs, and they can fucking deal with it.

Thank you for your time. Any shout outs ?

Thanks to everyone who still gives a shit about us. We are sort of at a

standstill right now, lacking members and motivation. We will make another

record soon and tour again, but while we are doing nothing we still get so

many rad emails and letters. It's fucking awesome. Thank you.

Also, support the grand jury resistors in Portland, they are inspiring as

all fuck and going through a lot of unfair shit right now.

Gab de la Vega

Hello and thank you for answering the questions.

It's me to thank you for this unexpected interview!

Can you please tell a 'lil bit about yourself, your projects and bands.

My name is Gab, I'm from Brescia, Italy. I don't know what to say so I will cut it short: I have an acoustic punk folk solo project as Gab De La Vega, I play in a hardcore punk band named The Smashrooms, I run a hardcore label and distro named Epidemic Records and I do some other stuff that I generally call “life”. I guess that this interview will tell more about me.

Why did you start „Epidemic Records“ ? And how did it evolve in the last

years ?

Since the beginning I liked the sense of community, mutual help and respect that hardcore and punk rock gave me. I started listening to punk and hardcore bands that were released by punk and hardcore labels, run by punk and hardcore kids themselves. So I wanted to do my part too. It all started as a small distro and a label to release The Smashrooms records at first, but then it grew up, involving more bands, and now it gives me a lot of satisfaction, even if it requires a lot of time and commitment.

Do you have a special kind of band, which you support with „Epidemic

Records“ ?

Not really. It must be a band I like of course. Then it must be a band I get along with. There's a lot of bands that are musically great, but that I wouldn't get along with in any way. On the other hand there are bands of friends and people I respect I might not like. I will keep supporting and helping these ones of course, but probably I will not put money in their release.
If I really like a band and the guys in the band are people I get along with, chances are that I will put my money in their record. Of course it must be a steady project: putting a lot of money in a band that barely plays shows around wouldn't be the best choice.

As you can see, there's a lot of thinking behind a choice.

When did you start to play solo just with an acoustic guitar ? Why did you

start it ?

I always liked strumming my acoustic guitar. I started writing some acoustic songs around 2010 I guess, but I never thought I would played those in front of people.
In 2011 some friends of mine listened to those songs and suggested me to start playing shows. In the end I decided to do so and after a while I started getting requests for shows.

I really enjoy playing acoustic, it's pretty different from a hardcore show. There's no need to explain why. I play acoustic because I like it a lot and it gives me the chance to play different songs in a different way than the hardcore stuff I usually play. Many people, either outside or inside the hardcore community, enjoy acoustic music and this provides me the chance to face a different, or better wider, audience. I'm still a guy who comes from a hardcore punk background so my approach is definitely influenced by this, but still I can mix it with the folk songwriter attitude, telling stories, explaining what pushed me to those reflections, ideas, feeling I put in words and music.

An acoustic show of mine has definitely a slower pace than hardcore punk shows I'm used to, I really enjoy this way to express myself, my thoughts, my experiences and reflections.

Let's talk a bit about attitude. You are vegan and straight edge. How long

are you vegan and straight edge ?

I went vegan in 2007, after about a couple of years as a vegetarian. I used to drink alcohol, but then I started thinking that there was no need to drink that much to have a good time and I didn't like the behavior of those people and friends I knew that used to drink a lot. I also didn't like the feeling of being drunk or under the influence myself. So I started drinking less and less, until I didn't feel the need to touch a drop of alcohol anymore. I realized that I didn't need alcohol, tobacco or drugs to define myself, my personality, my identity. I was a person with a lot of things to express in words and actions and I realized that those substances were useless, or even harmful, in the development of my identity in the social context as well as in the expression of myself as individual.

I went drug free and stayed that way; for a pretty long time I didn't feel the need to claim myself a straight edge, because I had a great respect for that, which I always considered a political stance and idea to be taken seriously.

By that time, a lot of people asked me if I was a straight edge but I really didn't feel like to tag myself that way. After a lot of thinking and considering the straight edge in its whole meaning, I decided to make it clear: in my opinion straight edge is a choice that makes my political ideas complete, solid and coherent.

Why are you vegan?

There's a million of reasons why is a good thing to go vegan. There's no good reason not to do so.
I could talk a lot about veganism, because it's something I really feel, but I will tell you just this: I don't want to contribute to the suffering, exploitation and death of animals. We can live without being responsible for their suffering, exploitation and death. Everyone condemns suffering, exploitation and murder. This is the same for animals. There's no “good suffering”, “good exploitation” and “good murder”. Give veganism a chance and you will see how great it is to live a compassionate and ethical lifestyle that causes no harm to anyone.

Why are you straight edge?

Why not? I think straight edge is the natural evolution of punk. Drinking, smoking, taking drugs is nothing revolutionary. Unfortunately most of the people in the alternative communities (especially in punk) still live by the stereotype of the damned rebel that makes things that society sees as wrong and condemns. But just take a look around. You're not a rebel if you do drugs. Everybody does. You just conform to the norm. In a world where everyone wants to feel detached from reality, trying to escape from it, the “punkest” thing you can do is to stick to reality and live it. Turning a blind eye on problems doesn't solve them and doesn't make any change in the world.
It's a long talk but basically I see straight edge as something that completes my political view. I want to live my life in freedom, be active, be aware and conscious. I don't want to support an industry, a part of the system, the mechanism, that wants people to be numb and docile. If you need to poison yourself to cope with the sense of oppression and alienation that modern life can give, sure there's something wrong. Boredom, frustrations, solitude, (self) acceptance problems and issues of any kind won't be solved by any cigarette, drink or drug.
But please notice: I have a lot of non straight edge friends and I'm not the one who preaches on other people's habits. It's a choice I made for myself and I'm open to talk about it in respectful confrontations, but I really don't want to be the straight edge guy who attacks non straight edge people and bores them to death. I think I can say I'm just a normal guy who lives his life, with its ups and downs, in the purest way possible and who is aware of it.

Anyway, there's a very interesting book that I want to suggest to those who want to learn more about Straight Edge. It's “Sober Living For The Revolution – Hardcore punk, straight edge and radical politics”, edited by Gabriel Kuhn. It's a good starter that gives different perspectives on straight edge and its links to politics.

Do you think straight edge is a political choice and not just a personal ?

I guess it's not just one or the other. It's both. It's a political choice because every aware choice we make in life has political repercussions. On the other hand it has repercussions on your own life too. So I guess we can say it's personal too. You can live it has you want, but in my opinion straight edge needs to be considered both as a personal and political choice. I think that every personal choice has political aspects as well as political choices are basically personal choices taken with awareness and commitment. It's not just a matter of “partying sober” and it's not just a matter of “sober revolution”. I guess it's nothing but “life”, lived in the purest way we can, extrapolating ourselves from the poison-based social pattern we grew up in, which we absorbed as the only way to be in the social context. It's not true: we were sober kids that became smokers and drinkers. Why we could enjoy life without substances and at a certain point we needed those to be included in society? We don't need those to be real, deep and articulated individuals. On the contrary, those substances are used to cope with the mechanisms of a society that wants us flat, needful and frightened. Any person, any individual can do great things, can be someone without drinking, doing drugs nor smoking. If you need a cigarette, drugs or alcohol to live your days it's pretty clear that there's something wrong. Why did we start needing those things in our teenage? Do we really need those things to become men and women? We need to return to be those young boys and girls we used to be before poisonous imposed needs came into our lives.

I saw you in a squat in Vienna. Many people were smoking in this little

room, where you played. What do you think about this, as a straight edge

person ?

It's pretty common in squats and social centers. Squats are places where freedom and respect are basic. But in this case it is taken in a contradictory way. “We are free to smoke inside of the room” means “we are forced to breath smoke and have sore eyes” for non smokers. If we were all born as smokers and smoking was a natural activity of human beings, then everyone would smoke and non smokers should go outside to breath fresh air. But this is not the case. Non smokers are forced to breath loads of passive smoke. Freedom to breath and respect for non smoking people is not considered. This is not the way squat politics should work. You can smoke and do everything you want, but in the respect of those who didn't decide the same for themselves.

I think that squats and social centers should invite smokers to smoke outside, to let people breath fresh air inside, which is good for smokers too actually. Please notice: I didn't say that squats should ban smoking. Banning doesn't bring a self-responsibilization of people. It just say “you can't do that”. It doesn't help people to raise awareness of the problem, it just says “this is forbidden”. It's always better to make people understand why some thing shouldn't happen instead of telling them not to do so. This is one of the most important things I consider in my political view: my freedom ends where another person's starts.

What do you think about squats in common ?

I like squats. I played many shows with The Smashrooms in many squats around Europe and I guess we always will. I also played many acoustic shows in squats and I will keep doing so. I also enjoy other activities, both political and social. They are places that try to create a different kind of socialization.
Sure there are some dynamics that still don't work properly in squats and these need to be fixed in order to offer a better alternative to the sterile, consumerist socialization offered by expensive clubs.

Sometimes we can find the same dynamics of the criticized “outside world”, transferred into the squat space. I think that offering the same shit we don't like in society in a squat doesn't make a real alternative. Unfortunately some squats are meant this way and this makes me pretty sad. So good that most of the squats are run by people whit a real critical view on these issues, which work hard to make squats and social centers good alternatives. These need to be supported.

What means D.I.Y. For you ?

Getting involved, making something in a better way, with more heart, more passion and more satisfaction.

You are a political musician. Do you use your shows to give speech and

talk to the people ?

I wouldn't call myself a political musician. Probably I shouldn't call myself a musician either, because of my technical lacks, but this is another story. Why political? I'm simply a guy who plays songs and speaks out his mind. There's no boundary between personal issues and political issues. One song I can talk about the way I feel about something, the other song I can speak out my opinion about military interventions to protect western countries interests in far away lands. But it's still me, the same person, the same mind, the same show. Why should I say “this song is political”, “this song is personal”? I know we ofter tag bands or artists this way, but I started thinking we shouldn't. We're not just political people and we're not just people caring about personal issues. We are deep, multifaceted individuals that can have interests in many different things: traveling, riding a bike, having fun with friends, living a love story or even politics. Yes, I care about politics and yes I put a lot of effort in making political issues clear to many people, both with my songs and my activities, but everyone who knows me can tell you that I also love making jokes, doing impersonations, having fun, traveling, watching TV series... I'm just a normal guy who cares about a lot of things. A statement like “Gab De La Vega is a political musician” makes me look like a very boring dude who preaches on people and that never has fun and honestly I don't feel that way at all. I'm not like that. As I said I care a lot about politics but I think that everyone should simply develop a healthy interest in politics just like they have interest in playing basketball, reading books, studying subjects they like, doing the job they love or skateboarding. Politics is a part of life. What I would like to see is a world where politics is lived as a normal part of people's life and not seen as a boring science for weirdos and ultra-militant people. This way more people would grow up aware and active and maybe the world could be a bit better. Taking politics back from the greedy and dirty institutional hands and giving it back to the people, where it belongs. That would be awesome.
For this reason, yes, I often speak in the between of the songs when I want to explain the issue the song is about and bring some quick reflection easy to catch on those topics. But I always try not to make boring and endless speeches that make the show harder to enjoy. I give tips, suggestions and quick explanations, then I let the people get them and start looking for answers, in hopes they start thinking about those things.

Do you have any special tour experiences, you will remember for a long time ?

I like funny tour stories. The Smashrooms have a lot of those to tell. Highways always offer the best, for example. One of our favorite: European Tour 2010. Our drummer Cello was staring outside of the window on a highway in Germany and suddenly turned to us shouting: “Guys you won't believe this! You won't believe what I saw! There was a couple having sex in the field just next to the highway! I'm sure! She was wearing a red T-shirt, he was all naked!”. We will never know the truth, but he's more than sure that it was no illusion: there was a couple having sex in a field next to the highway, so close to the traffic... We always have fun telling this story to friends. But we have a lot of stories to tell. Honestly I will always remember every single second I spent on tour. Tour life is amazing!

Who designed your shirts ?

I designed them. Another thing I love of the DIY ethic: you have skills? Use them!

Can you explain the situation in Italy ? Is there still a (concious)

hardcore scene ?

I would say yes. There's still people involved in hardcore punk and a lot of good bands to support. I guess hardcore is in a bad phase generally speaking and Italy is no exception, but I don't want to be pessimistic, so I will say that there's people still caring of a meaningful and committed hardcore scene. It could be better though. But I really don't want to complain (too much). Check out italian hardcore bands on tour!

What can we expect in the future from you and your projects ? I saw, that

you are working on a new „Epidemic Records“ Homepage.

Well... a lot! Epidemic Records new website is almost ready and it will host a brand new e-store to order records, t-shirts and other stuff directly from there. A good friend of mine is helping me.

I want to record a LP as Gab De La Vega, to be released in 2013. If anyone out there runs a DIY label and wants to help, please get in touch. I also want to tour Europe again.
The Smashrooms are working on new songs for a new LP too. It will be different from the previous stuff. I really can't tell how it will sound in the end but since these first days spent writing and practicing new stuff I can tell you that this is going to be our best production so far. Maybe it will sound really different to the most, but it's what we want to do right now: we wouldn't write a record that sounds just like The Wind Of Tomorrow or Questions. I'm really excited for this. Can't wait!
The Smashrooms will hopefully tour Europe again in 2013 too. We also started a new project named HFPS – Hardcore For Political Support, a benefit project to raise money for political activists and prisoners involved in struggles we support. I hope to do good things with HFPS. More info will be given from our page and from the new Epidemic Records website soon.

Any last words and shout outs ?

Yes: go vegan! It's great, easy and makes a huge difference for the animals, for the hungry populations, for the planet and for ourselves too. Let the revolution begin in your kitchen!

I also want to thank you for this interview. See you hopefully next time I will play Vienna!

4 Paws

Hi and thank you for this interview. Please introduce yourself.

Hello - you‘re welcome. I want to thank YOU for letting me take part in your fanzine.

I do rap music by the name „4PAWS“. I am a Vegan Straight Edge kid and hungry as fuck!

How did you become straight edge and vegan ? How long do you follow this

path ?

I came in touch with Vegan Straight Edge trough my home town‘s Hardcore scene and Hardcore music in general. First I became vegetarian because of an ex-girlfriend. After that I started attending more and more political hardcore shows. I learned to know interesting people, went to an NUEVA ETICA show, watched Earthlings and one thing came to the other. I went vegan. After splitting up with my druggy ex-girlfriend I truly became Straight Edge. I had made my expieriences with this lifestyle before, but from now on it became part of my identity. I‘ve been vegan for more than 3 years now. I‘ve been Straight Edge for almost 3 years. Both lifetime decisions of course.

How is the situation in your area (political vegan edge people, shows,...) ?

Lot‘s of vegan restaurants/shops, there is a XVX band coming half a year… I guess the situation could be worse!

Hahaha!! I am just kiddin‘…

When it comes to Vegan Straight Edge-culture the situation is, that I am the only Vegan Straight Edge-act I know of in Hamburg. Besides music there is a friend of mine capturing photos on shows. (NoXRoses>faceb**k) There is a aspiring graffiti artist called xFarbzwangx bringing the XVX on our city‘s gray walls.

A bro in Lübeck (close to Hamburg) is doing the VgnXSolution Distro and organizes shows. (>faceb**k))

Not really in my area, but there is a cool dude in Berlin doing all the XVX-tats in Germany I know of. You should find him by his artist name Art War (>faceb**k)

Other than them there is not much of pure XVX DIY stuff going on in Hamburg. Of course there are lots of cool projects made by vegan or straight edge friends of mine.

To sum it up: I know some cool and trustworth XVX kids in Hamburg and close towns. Some of them are close friends. Our Vegan Straight Edge appearance is small and not connected in an overall all XVX-scene. We all know each other somehow, but not everyone‘s cool with each other.

Like in every sub-culture there is lot of distrust and bad expierience even in the own circles, plus lot of Vegan Edgers obviously live their beliefs just for themselves or don‘t really show them off in public (not even on (related) shows). Good example: right now we are desperately working on getting the ‚X‘ back on the back of the hands at shows… haha

Like everywhere there are people dropping veganism and (the label) edge continously.

Well, at least some remain.

Are you involved in any other bands or groups ?

I am not involved in other bands. I am co-founder of an animal liberation group called „Animal Liberation Network“. We mainly co-operate in a net of animal rights/liberation groups in Hamburg and close towns. We also do our own actions. www.aln.blogsport.de

I created the common interest platform „Vegan/Edge Rap Worldwide“ on faceb**k which you probably know. It shows an overview of today‘s and past artists. Even though I don‘t have anymore time to take care of the page. If anyone‘s interested - let me know (veganedgerap@web.de).

Why did you start to rap ? How long are you active ? What was your

motivation to put such a strong message into your lyrics ?

I started rapping in march 2010. I‘ve started being active not long after I became vegan. My motivation for everything was, and still is, the past and current oppression of all sentient beings.

It rips my heart apart, each time I am faced with the harsh reality of animal abuse and oppression of humyns. I see unjust behaviour and fucked up things everywhere. Hard to stay positive in this world. Music can be a productive outlet for angers and fears and to share feelings with like-minded people like you for example.

Do you get a lot of feedback ? Is it positive ?

I get lots of feedback. 99% of it is positive. Some months ago a person had concerns of the political correctness of my lyrics (f.e. because of using the curse word „bastard“ in one of my songs). I explained to him why I felt it‘s ok to use it and other of my statements (f..e.: „theories are worthless, without any practice“ (translated into english)). I enjoy sincere feedback and criticism, but I am no big fan of being „political correct“. Music is about feelings, and I will not limit or even censor my music‘s content for the sake of constructs like that. I am just trying not to be an asshole.

Who influences your lyrics and your music ?

I think the german Vegan Straight Edge combo „Goodfellas“ gave me the INITIAL inspiration to do XVX-related rap music. Even though I would NOT identify myself with their actions & lyrics anymore. Big influences on my lyrics have bands like Canon, Chokehold, Contempt, Culture, Day of Suffering, Earth Crisis, Lifeforce, old Maroon, Reprisal, Tears Of Gaia, Mostomalta, Sentence, Canaan, Gather, Eye Of Judgement, True Nature, among others. I take influences from Death Metal and Black Metal genres aswell. When it comes to beats and rap-style influences, there are Albino, xIrreversiblex, Dead Prez, Stic, Omega Impure, xForgotten Frequencyx, xReign Of Terrorx (RIP), Wolf-Cell-Solid/SuperXContra (RIP), Naj One (RIP), xResttox, xMenção Honrosax, xGaeax and S-1. Not topic-related rap music I like (and which inspires my beat-choices): Nas, DJ Premier, Lewis Parker, Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, Killa Kyleon, Blaq Poet, Necro, Gang Starr, Guerrilla Seca, Sa4, Nate57, Talib Kweli and many more. As you can see I like to take my favourite parts of many different artists/styles...

You made a soli track for the austrian animal rights activists. What do

you think about the green scare ?

„Green Scare“ stands for the fact, that multi-national corporations, earth and animal abusers more and more begin to realize the damage direct action and coordinated campaigning can have on their business. At some point they are scared of us. In fact it‘s the unpredictability of autonomous political action and the growing desparation of activists willing to go to the utmost to reach even smaller goals. Obviously I hate all the repression that comes with it. But I admit I was suprised how hard they hit the austrian animal rights movement for example. I followed the case for long time and my personal way to contribute was this sign of solidarity. I received positive feedback from one of the convicted, I am proud they liked the song.

What do you think about paragraphs like §129 in Germany and §278 in Austria ?

Since it all happened in Austria, we became more alert in Germany. Why shouldn‘t it happen to us? I take precautions in my actions by keeping crucial things to myself instead of blindly trusting every new face in the scene. Well, the art is to stay open for new people and ideas. To let people gain trust without questioning everything. It‘s one of the worst things the government is capable of. The tactics of observation and introducing snitches into progressive political movements. They spread distrust and destroy lifes when the time comes. We have seen that in Austria and I feel sorry for all the people that had been harmed. As I don‘t belief in the legitimacy of any government and „book of rules“ like the german and austrian (or any) law, there is no need to say that I hate these paragraphs among many others. Problem is, I can‘t change the situation, so I need to deal with it. That‘s all I‘ve ever done since building a critical consciousness for my surroundings.

In the past you had some problems with the „Ärzte gegen Tierversuche“ ("Physicians Against Animal Testing"). Can you explain what happened ?

Long story short: I was invited to play after a big demonstration against animal testing in Bremen. I thought this was a great idea to get more progressive ideas of total liberation across, so I accepted thankfully. Apart from the fact that the gig was shitty (I played just 3 tracks of 7, just one of them in front of the demo-crowd) the „Ärzte gegen Tierversuche“ invited a guy named Wolfgang Apel to talk after my gig. There was protest announced by the animal liberation participants because of his functions as an „honorary president“ of the „Tierschutzbund“ (German Animal Welfare League) and his activities as a chairman of an slaughter association called „Neulandfleisch“ (I guess to „supervise“ the murder or whatever).

Directly after he started his speech we began to get out our message across by lifting up signs and shouting to enlighten the crowd on his involvement in animal abusement and murder. His personal security (guess somebody was scared of the greens) showed aggressive behaviour by pushing some of us around and so on. We asked the organizers for help, but they just let it happen, without any effort of de-escalation. It was clear, the „Ärzte gegen Tierversuche“ already took sides. There are different statements in the interwebs, if you‘re interested in the happenings and capable of the german language you can start here: http://4paws.blogsport.de/2012/05/01/4paws-stellungnahme-zum-tag-zur-abschaffung-der-tierversuche-vom-28-4-2012/

Ich empfehle ausserdem
die Stellungnahme der Tierbefreiung Hamburg, die zu den Protesten aufgerufen hatte:
http://www.tierbefreiung-hamburg.org/archives/1232)

In your songs you take a strong stand for militant actions. Is this the

only option for you ? What means "active veganism" for you ?

I think militance is one of the most powerful tools we got to destroy harmful property. It also can be the only way to safe another individual. Taking one life to safe another? Is it fair? These are high moral questions no one can really answer. If I would encounter a person that is inflicting damage to another individual I would take any necessary steps to prevent that person from doing it. It gets more complicated if you think about all the damage we deal out against mother nature and the individuals in our daily lives. Aren‘t we supposed to do something about that?? To reduce the damage is the less we can do. Reducing damage for us mostly means living vegan, limit consumerism and so on, but these are very passive things to do. By „active veganism“ as mentioned in „Militanz“ I mean doing anything more than just changing a diet or habit. Doing more than just not doing something. To actually do something, creating networks, doing legitimate protest, including militant actions. It all depends on us, how far we are willing to go. I get inspired and I do the story-telling. That‘s all.

What do you think about such huge organisations like PETA ?

As part of a more emancipatory animal liberation movement, I think we would be better off without them. Unfortunaly I hear lots of people comparing our work to PETA‘s and sometimes confusing our goals with theirs. Fact is, PETA reaches a bigger audience by receiving large amounts of donations and using popular marketing strategies. At the same time they don‘t connect animal exploitation with humyn explotation (f.e. sexist marketing). Do their methods help the animals in a more effective way than we do? I don‘t think so. They did some good research in cases of animal abuse. Now everyone can see what‘s going on in animal laboratories. But still - nothing has changed.

Do you think that straight edge is a political stance? Do you think, that

abstinence has any impact on the world ?

I think Straight Edge has a political stance in it. But not all of it is political. I agree with „Straight Edge is politics“ but I also agree with „Straight Edge is culture“. I naturally include drug free considerations in my anarchist beliefs and I belief you can‘t build any collective succesfully, if there are drugs of any kind involved. In a world free of violence, there can be no drugs. Besides politics, Straight Edge became part of my identity and consciousness. Same way I feel connected to the ethics of Hardcore, I feel connected to the ethics of Straight Edge. I just cannot part the one thing from the other, even though in reality we all know, Hardcore can exist without the Straight Edge in it. Well, I do think that abstinence has an impact on the world. Any (healthy) and sober person on the world, whether Straight Edge or not, can be made fully accountable for his_her actions. This is basic for life. Without any responsibility and reliability nothing can be build. My drug free life has led people to Straight Edge and made others consume less when I am around them. Being around people who consume less drugs or no drugs at all is just safer and healthier for everyone.

What do you label as drugs ?

Illegal drugs and legal drugs (tobaco, alcohol, misuse of medicine). Obviously substances like caffeine and sugar can be addictive too, but don‘t tend to destroy lifes of other people (Exception proves the rule).

What do you think about drug dealing ?

I think it‘s shit and a bad thing to do. Obviously not every drug dealer is a bad person, due to economic situations and lack of education, people just get involved in it. But I hate how many teenagers adapt some heroic image of drug dealers, created by some rappers who tell them so. Dealing drugs became somehow an obligation for a „true, masculine, gangster“.

You used a dialog from "Princess Mononoke" as an intro for your cover song from

xKurohatax ("Requiem of the Earth"). Can you explain, why you use this

quote. What do you think about this movie ?

It just fits perfectly in the image Kurohata created in their song. Like Kurohata, Princess Mononoke was driven by a profound hate against humynity for their actions against mother nature. At the same time they still have hope things can work out in the end. I just love the movie. Hayao Miyazaki made some really beautiful animes.

What do you think about DIY ?

DIY is the essence of art in general. It also is the essence of culture. And culture is the essence of our humyn life. As you can see DIY is very important to us! Haha.. Without you making this fanzine there would be no interview, because in an capitalist world only things count that generate money. So thank you for keeping DIY alive!

What can we expect in the future from you ?

I will release a full-length mixtape in 2013 and play some shows in Germany. There will be some interesting features on the mixtape so just stay tuned.

The last part is for you. Any shout outs ?

Thank you for your time. Thank you again for the interview. I wish strength to all activists in Austria for the hard times. I wish you all the best with your future projects, especially with the fanzine. Keep Vegan Straight Edge strong and committed!

If you are interested in my music you can check out these pages:

http://4paws.bandcamp.com/

http://4paws.blogsport.de/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/4Paws/267102203374188?fref=ts („4Paws“ on faceb**k)

XVX