Above image shows Woody Guthrie‘s guitar
History has always been captured through the minds of the artists, and music is no exception. From the protest ballads of the 1950s and 60s to Britain’s punk scene of the 1970s, to songs like ‘Free Nelson Mandela’, ‘Get Up Stand Up’, and ‘We As Americans’, politically-charged music has spanned across every genre and hailed from numerous cultures across the globe.
To say 2020 has been politically turbulent is an understatement: January started with a presidential impeachment, June saw Black Lives Matter take the world after the murder of George Floyd, and August brought us another case of police brutality, protests in southeastern Wisconsin, and the quadrennial run of the DNC and RNC. And that’s just in the United States.
Rock & Roll, Rap, Indie Music & Political Turmoil
This year has already seen a slew of politically-focused discography: British-Pakistani rapper Riz Ahmed released The Long Goodbye, a breakup album that focuses on Britain’s ongoing treatment of people of color. In June, Beyoncé dropped the single ‘Black Parade’ in response to George Floyd’s murder, and Canadian political-punker grandson has churned out six singles and an EP appropriately titled (Text Voter XX to 406490).
Independent rock & roll artists have been responding to the ongoing political turmoil, both with original material and politically powerful covers. Caleb Brown is the lead vocalist and producer of Aim High. Based out of South Carolina, Aim High recently released a breathtaking cover of Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Sleep Now In The Fire’ as a response to Breonna Taylor’s murder in March. Brown told Culture Pledge:
“The murderers of Breonna Taylor have not yet been arrested. We decided to release the live cover on all music platforms as a way to use our platform to speak out against this injustice, among many others.”
In a modern twist, Aim High does not use their music to highlight their political beliefs, but their stances on social issues. Brown elaborated:
“We are not extremists. We are passionate about everybody having the same rights, getting treated fairly… and we are extremely against police brutality, racial injustice, economic disenfranchisement, sexual assault/rape, the “war on drugs,” and the two-party voting system.”
Shunning Trump Hypocrisy
A number of artists feel their music speaks for the beliefs of the band, that their style and political message is their own and not up for interpretation. Big-name artists like R.E.M, Rhianna, and the estate of the late Tom Petty have all served Trump with cease-and-desists for playing their music at his rallies, mainly to keep from being linked to the president and his often hateful messages. Recently, The Atlantic published an article that revealed the commander-in-chief referred to Americans who died in combat as ‘losers and suckers’.
Hitting Hard as Fuck
A personal belief, political or not, often can be what motivates an artist’s performance. Becky Wreck is the drummer for the Los Angeles trio Dirty Cakes. The band recently released the rage-fueled single ‘Resist 45’ and the music video for ‘The Anthem of the Fight for America!’, neither of which shies away from Dirty Cakes’ views of the state of the nation. Becky made it clear that Dirty Cakes “shares basic core human values, to each his own, pursuit of happiness, everyone is equal, pro-choice, anti-repugnantlican, etc. Charley (the lead vocalist and baritone guitar player) has a lot to say about the ‘fight for America’ as he calls it, and I just kind of think ‘hey, let our music speak for itself.”
For Becky, her passionate performances are the result of personal beliefs: ”My whole life, I have felt on the front lines of the patriarchal bullshit authoritarian hate that presides over us. But as a masculine queer, that evokes a special kind of hate from these men. I just hit hard as fuck thinking of every fucked up thing I have ever felt or seen-injustice, bigotry. The drummer is the driver – when I go low, the high is extreme, musically speaking.” She also hoped that people would relate to Dirty Cakes’ music during this tense political climate: “Someone has to be the voice of reason, loud as fuck.”
Political Advocacy Through Rock & Roll
Some bands prefer not to make a specific statement, but instead to aim to create a more powerful and inclusive environment for their listeners through their music. The Crystal Casino Band is an indie trio from Washington D.C. The members-Jarrod Hendricks, Joey Mamlin, and Pete Stevens-are alumni of George Washington University, and have used their platform to advocate for voter registration and raise funds for Black Lives Matter.
“Being in DC for the 2016 election, and the whole Trump administration that has been defined by exclusion, threats, and just general mistreatment of people. While our songs are not often specifically political, I think our energy and personal feelings, which drive our music’s focus on inclusion, equality, and overall human compassion,” Stevens explained. He added that “It’s not necessarily the lyrical content, but we want our music to be for everyone, and we want everyone to feel welcome, safe, and happy enjoying our music.”
Rock for a World Free of Hatred
Also hailing from the nation’s capital is American Television, a self-described melodic punk band. Their music isn’t a response to just the events of 2020, as singer and guitarist Steve recanted in an online interview:
“We’ve been singing along to political music since we were kids. The fight for a more equal world is never over, and song has always been part of that fight. We need to move toward a world that gives equal opportunity to all, a world that is free of hatred, and a world that is not controlled by corporate dollars.
“We’re building on the foundation of the music we were brought up on because when the world has you completely exhausted, it’s good to have something for you and your friends to sing along to and find the motivation to keep going.”
American Television’s drummer Bryan elaborated that their influences came from their experiences growing up in this world.
“While our personal interactions with people, corporations, or institutions can often be indicative of larger issues, we also recognize the privilege we all come from. We try to listen to others who may have had different interactions and experiences.”
American Television has also begun to use their artistic platform for the benefit of others:
“We try to contribute to charitable causes as much as we can. We’ve put songs on benefit compilations, thrown benefit shows, and donated sales of our merch. We just hope those who are feeling exhausted by the state of the world and find an escape in music see our songs as a source of energy, community, and motivation.”
Inspiration in Uncertain Times
What was most admirable between all four bands was the desire for their music to be inclusive for their listeners by finding something to identify with. Opinions and beliefs vary from artist to artist, but they have risen to the occasion in uncertain times to remind people that they belong and have a voice when it may seem hard to speak up. Thanks to these four bands, their music is here to speak with and for us during an indescribably chaotic year.
“We just want people to feel like they matter, and that they are cared about. That can mean something different to everyone, and I think that is one of the most valuable things art can provide.“
Pete Stevens of The Crystal Casino Band
Track down these artists and their music:
Dirty Cakes: Linktree, Bandcamp, Facebook, Twitter
