Daffodildos, a non-binary punk band, discusses their origins, influences, activism, and latest single 'No Pride,' highlighting their unique blend of personal and political punk.
1. Tell
us about the origins of Daffodildos. How did the band come together, and how
did you settle on the name?
Emily Flea has been writing songs since they were a teenager, after various
band line ups with previous band The Fleas, they ended up going solo. Before
reaching out to Captain Jax to join them on bass guitar to form Daffodildos,
the duo then set out on a hunt to find a drummer. Bumped into old friend Anni
Von Flange who just so happens to be a drummer! Anni had not long left another
band and was up for completing the neuro-spicy non-binary lineup.
The name came about after a conversation Emily had with a friend where they had
forgotten an old band name suggestion, and instead referred to Daffodildos.
Hence the name was born.
2. Your latest single, 'No Pride,' critiques the commercialization of Pride
events. What inspired you to write this song, and what message do you hope
listeners take away from it?
Emily Flea was sitting on a bus in London going past all the shops, banks and
police cars with their rainbows thinking “What do they do for us? Are these
rainbows still going to be up next month or are the LGBTQIA+ community going to
be forgotten and victimised for another 11 months?” We hope listeners take away
from No Pride that the queer community needs support all year round, and also
that pride started as a protest led by black trans women and the importance of
including all the letters in the acronym. Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists
along with any other transphobic groups are not welcome in our community.
3. Brighton is known for its vibrant LGBTQIA+ community. How has the city
influenced your music and activism?
Moving to the city, we all expected it to be a lot more queer friendly than it
actually is, despite the fact it’s the UK’s gay capital, there’s a surprising
number of cis-het men, especially in the punk scene and transphobia is still
rife. So our music reflects that and the struggles we face as local non-binary
folk. It's farcical to see cop cars emblazoned with rainbows when they still
perpetuate systemic oppression. Please do get out and support any
protests/petitions that call for equal rights. Human rights aren’t pie, we can
all have equal amounts.
4. You've described your music as rooted in early punk. How do you blend
classic punk sounds with your own unique style and message?
We have varied musical tastes but all of us grew up on early punk, hardcore,
pop-punk and nu metal. They all play a part in our musical inspiration, and of
course our own experiences are what we sing about, so we end up with personal,
political punk which reflects us as people!
5. What was the creative process like for 'No Pride'? Could you walk us
through how the song came together?
Emily Flea wrote the lyrics whilst on the bus to make signs for London Pride
with The Outside Project. They were wondering what to write on the signs and
after seeing all the corporate rainbows in and around London, including a Pride
Party at London Zoo, the lyrics quickly flowed. A riff followed and Emily Flea
performed this song at London Pride the day after writing it.
6. Being part of the queer and punk scenes, how do you see your role in
addressing socio-political issues through your music?
We see it as our duty, as a community we only learn from people speaking out
about issues. We have lived experience on the majority of the issues we sing
about but we are also aware of our privileges and support intersectionality.
7. The band is vocal about topics like sobriety and veganism. How do these
personal choices intersect with your identities as musicians and activists?
Addiction and recovery have been a huge part of the bands lives, being impacted
by addiction ourselves and with the ones we love, we find it necessary to be
vocal about this to hopefully reach people who are still battling, to show
there is a happy life free from substances. “Self destruction is the worst form
of rebellion” - Ian MacKaye
Veganism was something we came to individually through education around the
meat and dairy industry. We feel passionately about speaking up for the
voiceless.
8. You've recently played at the Bearded Theory Festival. How was that
experience, and how do you feel about the reception of your music at such
events?
We went down a storm! Our set clashed with some big names in punk, yet we still
had an almost full tent for our performance, which we were over the moon with!
9. As a band that doesn’t take yourselves too seriously, how do you balance fun and serious themes in your lyrics and performances?
Amanda Palmer once said that as an artist your job is to “shine a light in the dark” that is to talk about these really important and dark issues but in light way that makes people want to get involved in addressing them.
10. What are some of the challenges you face as an independent band navigating today's music industry?
Money! It's hard just to get your expenses covered for playing gigs.
We are fortunate enough to be signed to a Label called Not Saints, they have been crucial in helping us get this record out.
It’s definitely a challenge having so many new bands popping up all the time, there is a very small market for gigs, especially after the pandemic. We just have to hope that our music speaks for itself.
11. What can fans expect from your upcoming debut single with Not Saints? Are there any surprises in store for listeners?
They can expect a catchy banger, this year’s pride anthem, that will get you dancing along whilst remembering the true ethos of why pride exists.
Suprises? Well, you’ll have to wait and see!
12. Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for Daffodildos in the near future? Any plans for tours or new releases that you can share with us?
Kerrang centrefold would be great, but failing that, we have another 2 singles coming out for you which are both also off our upcoming EP. Look out for all the new releases,
Daffodildos are here, queer and never going to disappear!
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