Scowl seem on the quilt of the Fall 2023 Issue. Head to the AP Shop to seize a duplicate, in addition to an unique vinyl variant of Psychic Dance Routine, restricted to 100 copies.
“It’s a fickle thing to want to be identifiable yet feel strangled by the idea of being boxed into one singular identity,” says Kat Moss, the lime green-haired frontwoman of Santa Cruz hardcore outfit Scowl. It’s a heavy, trustworthy sentiment she throws out, one felt by many hard-working artists within the business, and definitely past. It’s the sort of truism that we see, and hear, from Moss and her band that has allowed them to straddle being each a band’s band and an viewers favourite since their begin. In actual time, Moss and her bandmates — Malachi Greene, Mikey Bifolco, Bailey Lupo, and Cole Gilbert — are making their approach via Europe on tour, celebrating their anthemic third EP, Psychic Dance Routine, and sharing their defiantly charged sound and devoted, expressive dwell efficiency with a world that day by day is accepting hardcore additional into their hearts.
Read extra: 15 finest trendy hardcore bands for day one followers
Observing the wave that’s heavy music and the hardcore scene crashing down on a wider viewers than ever earlier than, Scowl sit at its crest. Since the discharge of their first self-titled EP in 2019, the group have garnered consideration and acclaim from these throughout the neighborhood and past, accruing followers like Post Malone and Travis Barker, various legends the band’s members grew up listening to and venerating themselves. In 4 quick years, they’ve discovered themselves in a sequence of pinch-me moments — from a DM of admiration from Fred Durst that led to a gap slot touring with Limp Bizkit to a shoutout from Hayley Williams on her podcast Everything is Emo. For the band, and the Santa Cruz hardcore scene they got here from, it’s been a whirlwind that’s all too straightforward to get swept up in. However, they’ve made positive to recollect the place they got here from.
For the quilt story, Alternative Press adopted the band round their beachfront hometown on the eve of the European leg of their tour. While on the highway, keen to precise their gratitude and reignite inspiration new and previous whereas juggling time zones and exhaustion, Moss and Greene conversed with yet one more Scowl fan-cum-alternative icon and private hero — who additionally occurred to be touring — Frank Iero, guitarist of supergroup L.S. Dunes and My Chemical Romance.
First off, thanks for taking the time to reply these questions. I do know this may be an thrilling expertise but additionally a bit soul-sucking on the similar time. Also, I’m flattered to have been requested to do that with you. I’ll strive my finest to not waste your time or make you would like you by no means requested me.
KAT MOSS: Thanks for taking the time to come back up with such considerate questions! We are so grateful, particularly contemplating how difficult it’s to search out time to do that stuff when on tour, taking good care of bodily and psychological well being, and simply being a human!
In different interviews I’ve seen, I do know most members of Scowl have been in different bands across the scene, however Kat, if I’m not mistaken, you mentioned that is your first band. How did the connection between members come to be? Why did you are feeling this was the band? And what, if any, have been your expectations when beginning Scowl?
MOSS: Correct! Everyone had a minimum of just a few years of expertise taking part in in DIY hardcore bands — besides me! The solely musical expertise I beforehand had was highschool choir. I met Malachi (guitar) and Cole (drums) round roughly the identical time. They have been taking part in in a band I like from Santa Cruz referred to as Jawstruck. I had all the time needed to be in a band. I simply didn’t understand how that actuality would unfold. I used to be lively within the Bay Area/Northern California hardcore scene for a little bit over a yr, usually going to exhibits alone. I really met Malachi at a Gilman present in Berkeley! It didn’t take lengthy for me to confide in Malachi and specific my curiosity in taking part in in a band. I had zero expectations apart from just a few “bucket list” objectives. This was my mindset:
- Play exhibits with our pals: Drain, Gulch, Sunami, Hands of God, Jawstruck, No Right, and so forth.
- Maybe even open for a few of my favourite hardcore bands like Gorilla Biscuits or Terror!
- Tour as a lot as doable
- Play my favourite hardcore fest, Sound and Fury!
- Play a present at 924 Gilman
- I imply it after I say I really had no concept what was in retailer for us when it got here to our alternatives.
Music is an exquisite and fascinating vocation. It’s coveted by many and misunderstood by extra. Some individuals who do it for a residing by no means anticipated it to be their important job, and many who would do something to be the place we’re won’t ever get the shot they deserve or are hoping for. Was this one thing you all the time needed to do with your lives? If not, what has been your ardour? And lastly, if for some cause the power to play music was taken from you tomorrow, what would you wish to do with your remaining days?
MOSS: I may by no means determine what precisely I needed to do with my life rising up. All I knew is I needed to be in a inventive profession. I struggled in class and by no means graduated highschool. The message I acquired from the world was that I didn’t have many choices. So I all the time imagined myself as an artist, whether or not that be a pastime or a job. For a very long time, music felt like a membership I simply didn’t get invited into, one thing I’d solely eat — by no means take part. Every day I’m stunned and endlessly grateful to play music in any respect! If I wasn’t in a position to play music, I’d wish to pursue style design, work in illustration, or change into a make-up artist.
Was there a particular present or band you noticed that made you wish to begin taking part in music or say, “Damn, I need to be up on a stage doing that”?
MOSS: I apologize for a way cliche that is going to sound, however My Chemical Romance was that band for me! Scenes from the Life On The Murder Scene documentary really feel burned into my mind. It left an enormous impression on me and led me inevitably down the road of punk and hardcore bands. I found Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, [and] Negative Approach and trendy bands like Ceremony, Power Trip, [and] Incendiary. I consumed every part I may: books, zines, documentaries, even defunct web boards. I needed to leap in a van with a bunch of my pals, scream, sweat, and dance in random basements or VFW halls. I went to numerous concert events and Warped Tours, however DIY exhibits have been probably the most inspiring to me. Any band may stand up there and do it! That was large for me. I didn’t must be technically good or gifted as a result of that wasn’t the purpose of punk music.
Growing up in New Jersey, the shadow of the Misfits loomed giant, as did the NYHC scene, however then sooner or later so did The Sopranos and Jersey Shore. So individuals would hear the place my band was from and count on these caricatures of the issues they heard about on TV. Admittedly, after I hear Santa Cruz, my mind instantly goes to skateboards and Lost Boys. But I’m positive there’s a lot extra… What do you would like individuals knew about the place you’re from, reducing your enamel within the Santa Cruz scene, and what are belongings you wish to cease seeing in article titles or props in proposed photograph shoots?
MOSS: I like the truth that you introduced this up! I’m not even from Santa Cruz, and whereas I’ll wave the flag proudly, I received’t deny being a transplant on this metropolis. I like the sunny seaside, browsing, and boardwalks, however I don’t really feel it connects a lot to my identification or Scowl’s identification. Sometimes I develop uninterested in go-go boots and daisies. I simply attempt to see it as a possibility to strive one thing new. It’s a fickle factor to wish to be identifiable but really feel strangled by the thought of being boxed into one singular identification!
MALACHI GREENE: It’s robust to say as a result of I like all these issues! I don’t thoughts them being staples for the city. I grew up skating and browsing, and it’s for positive an enormous a part of the city. I want extra individuals knew Killer Klowns from Outer Space was filmed right here. I want extra individuals knew the struggles of Santa Cruz and the rising houseless inhabitants because of the wage hole, hire will increase, and lack of psychological well being help for these in want. It’s painted as a sunny city with a seaside and boardwalk, however there’s struggles for many who dwell right here that get ignored usually. So many individuals listed below are compelled out due to how arduous it’s to make ends meet. Plus, so many individuals purchase up houses for trip, and there’s already an absence of reasonably priced housing. I like Santa Cruz, and it’s an exquisite place, however rather a lot will get brushed underneath the rug that shouldn’t, and there ought to be extra help for the houseless and these struggling with psychological well being.
I think about your band will get requested rather a lot about what your emotions are or what you are feeling your function is in female-fronted hardcore or with femininity being represented within the style. I do know there’s a lot to be performed and mentioned earlier than equality is definitely achieved in all features, however I’m wondering in case you are getting uninterested in answering these forms of questions and want you possibly can simply be seen as a band first. Or do you are feeling just like the floor has not but been scratched and it’s partly your obligation to proceed the conversation?
MOSS: I feel two issues could be true. I do discover it tiring when it’s the one factor a stranger can converse to me about, however that exhaustion doesn’t imply I wish to silence the conversation altogether. When Scowl began, I needed to jot down lyrics about my expertise, however not pigeonhole myself! It was scary at first to stroll that tightrope. I really feel it’s all of our private obligation to query the best way we predict and understand these invisible buildings, whether or not that be having the conversation or discovering sources to coach ourselves, and I’m not afraid to assist get the engine began on that. Lastly and most personally, I wish to be perceived as a musician earlier than “a girl in a band.”
I really feel I is perhaps a bit older than everybody in your band, and with out attempting to sound just like the man who needed to stroll via two miles of snow uphill in each instructions to see his favourite band play… I do keep in mind vividly that again within the day when a band determined to develop, evolve, and change up their type, the loud shrieks of “SELLOUT!” can be hurled from the lips of everybody within the room.
However, as of late it appears to be far more embraced by the followers. With bands like Title Fight (as I’ve heard you point out in previous interviews as an affect or a minimum of being a fan of) taking followers on a lighter journey into extra melodic and shoegaze-type feels, do you discover it to be a better highway incorporating extra melodic singing into the band’s sound? And Kat, do you discover it to be a bit extra liberating to now have a distinct type of singing that you would be able to incorporate into your repertoire as a musician and songwriter?
MOSS: The scene has positively change into a bit extra open-minded and welcoming to bands attempting new issues, new kinds. It nonetheless ends in a type of chatter, however nothing in comparison with the tales I’ve examine! Thank god.
I discover it to be extraordinarily liberating to strive new issues vocally and melodically! I’m nonetheless discovering my voice, and there can be no pleasure in taking part in in a band if I denied myself the chance to experiment and be impressed by different genres and writing kinds. All of my favourite artists problem themselves, and I like that about them.
GREENE: People will all the time speculate on what promoting out is, however we’ve all the time been true to ourselves and performed what we’ve favored to do. I’m positive individuals say we have now bought out for including extra melody! Bands have been including melody and experimenting with style for the reason that begin. Bad Brains, Hüsker Dü, 7 Seconds, Biohazard, and many extra have performed genre-bending songs or albums approach earlier than us. We’ve grown as musicians, and we’re in a position so as to add different influences as a result of we discovered to play a little bit higher. If we didn’t evolve, it’d be stale. I feel individuals are extra open-minded now, and I feel that’s due to bands earlier than us, like those listed earlier than, and extra present bands like Ceremony, Code Orange, Title Fight, Turnstile, Trash Talk, Angel Du$t, and extra who broke the mildew and did shit their approach. I like the creativity happening as of late.
Growing up, there have been sure labels that my pals and I grew to become followers of as in the event that they have been bands. The high quality management was so good, and the neighborhood they cultivated was so refined that it ensured every time a brand new file was launched or a brand new band was signed, you possibly can nearly assure it could be one thing that you possibly can get behind and would dig. These days with labels like Triple B, Closed Casket, and your present dwelling, a label like Flatspot, I used to be questioning should you felt such as you have been part of one thing comparable or harking back to that?
MOSS: Something I like about hardcore is that I can depend on phrase of mouth or a DIY label to point out me the best way! I completely really feel just like the torch has been handed down with this unstated custom. Our subculture is sacred to us; I hope that feeling near bands and the individuals taking part in the music by no means dies since you don’t get that with many different scenes. Creating these bonds is such a particular factor that makes it really feel totally different and particular, sheltered away from mass consumption or the challenges of the music business.
With what looks as if such a quick and fixed rise on your band, what are your favourite objectives you have got completed with Scowl? Are there any that also stay? Do you have got a plan in place to realize these objectives? Does that in some way contain an endgame or an ending to the band?
GREENE: Honestly, my solely aim was to play exhibits with my pals after we began. I needed to tour and see new locations. As we did that, issues began occurring, and cool alternatives arose that we couldn’t imagine have been occurring! Playing Sound and Fury, to me, appeared like the largest factor on the earth, and I cherish that reminiscence dearly. Playing MSG on the Limp Bizkit tour was one thing I by no means thought would occur, and I’m nonetheless coming to phrases with the truth that we acquired to play there. Even assembly a few of my favourite bands on the highway or [at] fests we’ve performed collectively. I wish to tour far more and proceed to develop as a musician and as a band.
I’ve quite a lot of objectives now, however within the begin, I used to be simply studying play guitar and carry out. There are quite a lot of bands I’d like to tour with and locations we haven’t performed but. The plan is to maintain working at it till we get there. No finish recreation deliberate for the band, and to be trustworthy, I hope it by no means ends. For the primary time in my life, I really feel completely satisfied and a part of one thing optimistic. I hope to maintain that going for so long as doable.
MOSS: Certain issues have occurred scarily quick in Scowl’s world! I’m actually completely satisfied we acquired to play Sound and Fury in 2022. That’s an enormous private milestone… Playing Coachella was additionally stupidly insane. Touring abroad, help excursions with a few of my favourite bands, writing an LP, even quitting my job to tour full time all fall on the checklist of favourite accomplishments. I’m a really goal-oriented individual, in order I’ve checked off bins, I’ve added extra, touring Japan being on the high of the checklist, writing and recording LP 2, and to all the time do issues that will make my youthful self proud. 13-year-old Kat wouldn’t imagine being on the quilt of AP or being in a band for that matter!
I don’t see an finish in sight, and as a result of we by no means completely had a plan, I’m simply having fun with the trip and discovering magnificence in each a part of the expertise, even the robust stuff like stress and vulnerability. I wish to do that so long as it makes me completely satisfied. At the tip of the day, it’s about all the time discovering gratitude.
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