Few weeks ago, I came across a story that has caught me off guard as a long-time fan of Seattle sound. Apparently right before her death bassist Kristen Pfaff was considering forming her own band, where she would not only play guitar but also sing. If you are not familiar with Kristen, she was a founding member of Minneapolis trio Janitor Joe and a predecessor of Melissa Auf der Maur in Hole. She was a classically trained pianist and cello player (a lovely article on Kristen`s life can be found here) and I can clearly see why she wanted to lead her own project.
Why am I bringing Kristen in the review of A VOID new single? Partly because of a very interesting discussion on Reddit, where lead singer Camille Alexander has been compared to Kristen. But mostly because band`s new release “Save Yourself” has this dirty, slowly burning sound of many of Janitor Joe’s songs. Albeit forced kicking and screaming into the XXI century.
It was Arthur Conan Doyle who said that there is nothing new under the sun and it rings so true for music. Coming up with something completely unheard of is incredibly rare and it often involves input from the entire community of artists rather than a single person. But even if you opt for a sound or genre that is already established, there is no shame in it. You don’t have to kick the open door, you can concentrate on innovating and bringing your own elements to it and show your strengths and skills. Lack of authenticity, copying existing bands is what puts many listeners off acts like Greta Van Fleet or The Last Dinner Party. Unless you are planning to be a cover band or a tribute act, imitating others is simply a path no artist should willingly go.
On the sides notes and to be fair, I understand that sometimes musicians have absolutely no say in what they have to wear and how they sound due to pressure of their labels or contract specifications (happens a lot to K-pop bands for example) so as a music community it is our duty to call out such arrangements in the business and we should not support exploitation of the artists.
And this is what I adore about A VOID. They do not hide that early 90s grunge is their forte. They may sound similar to bands like Tinker, Janitor Joe, Girl Trouble, Heavens to Betsy or even Babes in Toyland but they are not impersonators. They make their own brand of grunge exciting. They remind me why I fell in love with the sound from Pudget in the first place. Like generations of rock musicians before them, A VOID are driven by inequality, they are loud about shortcomings of society they live in. They are also DIY and retain full control of their music. The last element was crucial for the Seattle scene at the end of the 80s. My hometown scene was always isolated, not many labels or executives were interested in what was happening sonically-wise in the Pacific Northwest. And hence it became a badge of honour for artists to own their tapes, their rights and have full creative control over the image, lyrics and any other aspect of their careers.
I believe this mindset is crucial today as well. Can you imagine any big artist from Seattle to come with a musical director or being told what to wear or how much they are allowed to eat? It would be unthinkable to have material written for them, less alone by old dudes that have last seen commercial success thirty years ago. Not being known on the scene or singing about books you can’t even comprehend would actively end your career before you even started.
A VOID stands out among many bands on our circuit because they don’t agree to lies, conformity and being subjected to unethical dealings. Going against the stream is probably the only reason why the trio haven’t been signed up yet and sent on a tour with Pearl Jam.
When I look at their new offering “Save Yourself”, it is like a cross over between “In Utero” and “Jesus Christ Pose”. The band is using religious imagery to comment on some of the most pressing issues of the past few years – mostly the trans and LGBTQ community being a target for fascist and reactionary groups. Do you remember when Kurt Cobain asked homophobes to not buy Nirvana`s albums and refrain from attending band`s gigs? Well Camille Alexander, Aaron Hartmann and Connie Howarth do the same towards TERFS. The message is quite simple: your moral panic has no effect on gay and trans people`s right to existence, they are created in the image of God just like everyone else and their strength and resilience will be their salvation.
In a symbolic gesture of solidarity, the video to “Save Yourself” shows Camille being nailed to the cross while the rest of the band keeps vigil. I don’t understand how anyone can hate another human being and wish harm upon them and it is reassuring to see the artistic protest of such magnitude and of artistic merit coming from A VOID. I don’t have to say that `opinions` of TERFs and other gender critical hate groups have no place in civilised society and should be regarded the same way we see anti Semitism and Holocaust denial.
On “Save Yourself”, A VOID gathered a whole village of like – minded and fierce artists: Shuta Shinoda (GhostPoet, Anna Meredith, Daughter) who recorded and mixed the track at Hackney Road Studios, John Webber (David Bowie, Hozier) at Air Studios, who mastered the song, cinematographer Lou Smith who shot the video, special effects artist MJ Philips and technical assistant Neil Anderson.
A VOID created something incredible on “Save Yourself”, a lifeline for those who may be running out of hope and perseverance. With an empathetic video that reaches out on an intimate and humane level. These are young kids (I could be their mother!) who have displayed integrity, wisdom and courage that is almost unheard of in the music industry. I know the band is from London/Paris but to me they embody the very spirit of Seattle: hope. Kristen Pfaff, Mia Zapata, Shaun Smith, Andy Wood all look down from Olympus and nod their heads in agreement.
These are the rightful heirs of Seattle sound. Period.
Follow the band on socials:
http://www.avoidinyou.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBwCzGg0kXD8delfwMQqgtQ
https://www.instagram.com/avoidinyou/
https://www.facebook.com/avoidinyou
https://twitter.com/avoidinyou
https://avoidinyou.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/album/4Ecxd2jnG9r0b6k12Ij0up
Our previous coverage:
https://vanadianavenue.co.uk/2022/09/11/a-void-dissociation-album-review/
https://vanadianavenue.co.uk/2023/05/11/a-void-2023-single-review/
Additional reading:
Malicia Dabrowicz
Indieterria 