Who is Seasick and what do you guys stand for?

Nick – Seasick is a New Brunswick, NJ based DIY hardcore punk band. I sing, deliver diatribes, and antagonize the people standing in front while we play.

Mark – It’s difficult to attempt to explain to someone else what you stand for, while at the same time it seems that if you don’t make that clear people will impose a value onto you. I think that Seasick is a punk rock band and our lyrics and actions pretty much explain what we stand for. Also, I play guitar in the band.

What were your initial goals when you first started the band, and how have they since changed?

Nick - Our initial plans were modest. Matt and I wanted to put out a 7” and tour at least once. There was no grand unified theory or master plan when Seasick started. I simply wanted to be on the other side of the band/audience demarcation. On that note, more people ought to stand on the side or behind bands while they play. I think it’s more intimate when the band/audience distinction is blurred. One day I think we’ll set up our equipment in the middle of whatever basement we’re playing in.

Mark – My goal upon joining an already formed band was to simply play music with new people, have fun and speak what is on our minds. Not much has changed and I’m still happy doing what we are doing.

In the booklet accompanying your EP, there are suggested readings. Are there any books you have since read that you think people should check out?

Nick – The View from Nowhere by Thomas Nagel. This book has shaped my thinking tremendously. Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozik is also quite good. While I don’t find Nozik’s libertarian conclusions convincing, the book is one of only a few systematic treatments of anarchist claims published in the latter half of the 20th century.

Mark – A collection of writings by Kuwasi Balagoon called “A Soldier's Story: Writings By A Revolutionary New Afrikan Anarchist”. It’s a very interesting and passionate personal account of a modern individual who led a revolutionary life.

(Editors Note: I am well aware that Seasick are not Straight Edge, I was just interested to see their thoughts on my opinion) Personally, I feel that people who choose not to indulge in the vices of drugs and alcohol are strong individuals, however, I hate the term “straight edge”. I know people outside of hardcore who do not smoke/drink but do not feel the need to call themselves straight edge. And honestly I would rather have someone not do those things because they want to, not because they want to be attached to a group. I guess what I’m getting at, why do people, especially within the hardcore scene, feel the need to “label” themselves especially when AT LEAST 50% of them end up breaking edge? To me it just seems like trying to fit in.

Nick – Well, firstly, drugs/alcohol are not vices, but I’ll table that discussion since it isn’t directly relevant to your question. You want to know why I think straight edge kids feel the need to label themselves as such. Let me preface this discussion by saying I don’t think I can do your question justice in only the span of an interview, but I’ll make some remarks. As you mentioned, there are two types of people who abstain from drugs within the punk scene; (1) Those who abstain and (2) Those who abstain, but call themselves SXE. Many people choose not to drink for a variety of reasons. At a young age I chose not to drink, because I didn’t think I could handle it. My father died of heroin and my mother’s mescaline addiction drove her to abandon our family. I thought I might end up like them, so I chose to abstain. My family’s history of addiction is why I made the decision to abstain, but this reason doesn’t plausibly explain why I decided to call myself edge. So what is it about the label that I, and so many others, found attractive? I think I initially labeled myself because I thought it was cool. I was 15 and I thought it was punk as fuck. Most people who claim edge do it at a young age without really thinking beyond the “punk as fuck” factor, so when a lot people get older and think about it they realize there isn’t much reason to stay edge and thus, most people (50% as you say)[Editors Note: It was pretty stupid of me to think I can put a number on such a thing] break. Those few who remain edge, I think, do so because (1) the stigma of breaking (this was my reason) or (2) they no longer closely identify with the label and it simply becomes something of a habit. It’s not something they really think about anymore. You see this in many older people who tell you they don’t care if you’re edge, because it’s a personal choice. This type of response is curious. If being edge is a personal choice, then there is no longer a need for a public label such as straight edge. Type (2) older edge rationale undermines itself. I know my response is going to anger some people, because talking about straight edge is strangely taboo in punk. So let me conclude with a clarification. I think drug abstinence is a rational lifestyle (though perhaps overly cautious), but I think labeling oneself as straight edge is a conceptual mistake. I also just want to say that I’m more than willing to discuss my views in person, because interviews don’t capture the whole picture.

Mark – I feel that abstaining from drugs can be a great thing and there are a lot of people out there who do need to exercise a certain degree of control over their lives with regard to what they put into their bodies. Personal control, however, does not start or end with consumption of “drugs”. People feel the need to belong and that’s fine as long as they aren’t doing something fucked up, like fighting people for smoking weed. Perhaps the label of “straight edge” is something some people feel they need in order to stay clean, or maybe it’s a way of belonging. Of course there are a lot of people just doing it to be “cool”, especially within hardcore when kids are young and looking for themselves or a way to find friends. When I think about all the weird ass shit that I did when I first got into punk it makes me laugh; that’s why it doesn’t matter to me when someone “breaks edge”, it’s just a personal choice.

For you as an individual, why did you choose to lead a “vegan” lifestyle?

Nick - Because the pain of non-human animals is relevantly similar to the pain of humans. If it is wrong to inflict human pain, then it is also wrong to inflict non-human animal pain. The argument is very simple, much like most compelling arguments.

Mark – My thoughts exactly.

For a person like me who likes to eat meat but am still interested in the fair treatment of animals, where can people like me find out where to eat eggs and meat from “factories” that are fair in the treatment of their animals?

Nick – Your question expresses a view that some call ‘benign carnivorism’, which is the idea that it is at least not wrong to eat animals that have been painlessly killed that otherwise would not have existed. This view is false for a variety of complicated reasons. In short, your interest in eating meat does not sufficiently outweigh the interests of animals with lives worth living. Furthermore, there are currently no morally permissible means of rearing and slaughtering animals that could be characterized as “fair.” It would be wrong to painlessly kill an animal, because you would be depriving the animal of a life worth living, which is certainly more important than the 10 minutes of meat tasting you would experience. Jeff McMahan has a very good article on this issue called “Eating Animals the Nice Way.”

Mark – I always thought that things like “cage-free” and “free range” were just marketing tools to give the consumer a false sense of righteousness.

Do any of you guys have any pre-show rituals?

Nick – I warm up with some scales, so as not to ruin my vocal chords. I also try to stretch and think about new ways of expressing what each song means to me.

Mark – I like to tune my guitar a few times, play some scales, stretch my hands/wrists. Depending on how I’m feeling maybe I’ll do a few stretches or maybe sacrifice a virgin to Pan the goat god.

Do you feel that more bands need to take a stand for something?

Nick – I don’t think anyone strictly “needs” to take a stand for anything, but it would certainly be more interesting if people did. Punk is painfully boring right now.

Mark – I would just like to see more “punk” and “hardcore” bands doing interesting things or having something to say. Shit is all about being a middle of the road clone playing it safe or tired old “shock” tricks, fuck that, I want to see something inspiring or at least someone who really fucking cares.

Have you guys heard about Will Smith and his wife’s production company doing a documentary on the straight edge crew, Courage Crew? If so, what are your opinions?

Nick – I haven’t heard anything about this, but it sounds hilarious.

Mark – Sounds like something I am going to see, but not ever pay for.

If there was one thing you could improve in the modern day hardcore scene what would it be?

Nick – There’s a million things I would improve, but I’m only going to cite something rather trivial. I wish more punk houses would make food for touring bands.

Mark – I would love to be able to go to a hardcore show and have the crowd and bands playing be diverse with regard to gender, race, sexuality, etc but that is so fucking far off from the norm sometimes disgusted that I’m there.

To follow up on that, what would be the one thing you would take out of the scene if you could?

Nick – Shirts, sweatshirts, clothing, etc. Any merchandise that isn’t vinyl. I wish bands didn’t have to sell that shit to make it to their next show.

Mark – I would take out all the big money promotion so hardcore could remain underground where it should be so kids don’t learn about moshing from television and come to a show thinking they are gonna fight someone. But again, another far off pipe dream.

How did you guys hook up with BrainDrain Records for the release of your EP?

Nick – We asked Jay to put out our record and he said yes. Jay is the best person in Pennsylvania.

Mark – We emailed him and he made us meet with him in this Darth Vader style meditation chamber that he sleeps in standing up. Totally creepy. To make a long story short, we found the medallian in the shrine of the silver monkey and awakenings came out on ten inch.

What are the plans for the band in the coming year?

Nick – One-sided 12” (or some other format) before our second full US tour this summer. After tour we plan on spending several months writing a full length.

Mark – Also playing a bunch of shows with friends.

Who are some bands that you feel people need to check out?

Nick – New Brunswick is one of the best places in the US for music right now. Within something like a 4 block radius you have the Screaming Females, Killin It, Zhenia Golov, Tin Kitchen, and Rapid Cities. In the greater New Brunswick area there’s the Degenerics, Fanshen, Hellhole, The Measure, Hunchback, The Ergs!, Full of Fancy, Static Radio, and Mother Night. And just a few miles to the Jersey Shore there’s Dead Tired and Staring Problem. All of these bands are definitely worth checking out.

Mark – All of those bands are awesome. This year especially a lot of awesome stuff has been happening in NJ. It’s cool that all of these bands are friends and we have this community going.

Thanks for your time guys, really appreciate it. If you have anything to add, any shout outs, plugs, etc, feel free to go off.

Mark – Keep your mind open, think critically and always wear clean underwear.