INTRO BY TAMARA CHAPMAN
INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY
PHOTO COURTESY OF BADTALKERS
The fresh new quartet BADTALKERS are the future of the indie genre. A perfect mixture resembling honey and poison, they’ve got some tunes up their sleeves that the world isn’t ready for. LA based, they use the musical outlets of hip-hop to touch on grimy topics. In this exclusive interview we learned more about their aspirations and how they plan to rise to the top of the music industry!
How would you guys describe your music style in three words?
"Slimy yet satisfying."
How did you all first come together to start the band?
"Richard, our singer, and Danny, our guitarist have been friends since high school. We've all been in mutual bands, but decided to get together about a year and a half ago to try something new."
You will soon be releasing your video for your latest song "No Pity". How did the concept for the video come about and how did you make sure the video well resonated with the song?
"We wanted to incorporate an urban feel without including footage of violence or weapons in the video, as it would have been too literal. We decided to keep it candid and real, like a mellow episode of The Boondocks."
"No Pity" touches on gun violence and drug epidemic in the US. To be young in America during this time with also having police brutality, terrorism, etc. can definitely be frustrating. Especially after the recent tragedy in Parkland, do you find the song connects to you in a different way than when you wrote it?
"It connects the very same exact way as when we wrote it, because it hits very close to home. Christian (drummer) was in 8th grade when his classmate was killed during a drive-by shooting in Cocoa, FL. Richard and Danny hear gunshots in their neighborhood every few months."
Why is it important for you to include these types of subjects in your music?
"The members in the band have lived in urban areas their entire lives, we write what we know and what we experience on a daily basis. We hope that we can use this platform to shed light on changes that need to happen in our community."
What do you hope people take from your music when they listen?
"We want people know that they should embrace who they are and where they came from. Be real, be sincere, and the good things will come."
Is there anything else we can expect from you in the near future? Any more music or shows?
"Another single, an EP, and some shows in the West Coast, all in 2018."