Stepan (Selfist)
SPB: What do you think “hardcore” (as a scene) means in 2023, going into ’24?
Stepan: The beauty of hardcore, much like any other form of art, is that it means different things to different people. That being said, as a culture rooted in a DIY ethos, hardcore exists in localized pockets that create an interlocking web stretching across the globe. To an extent, that’s the way it has always been since the genre’s inception in the early ‘80s, with the caveat that we now have thriving hardcore scenes outside of North America. While we are part of a global subculture, it is a scene that can only exist with the local efforts of bands, promoters, venue operators, writers, photographers, and fans. All of these roles can feel thankless at times, but in a way that is the element that keeps our art pure – the majority of people involved are doing it strictly for the love. At the same time, we have bands like Turnstile that have transcended into the mainstream, and it’s amazing that we can consider them part of the same culture that encapsulates your local crusties playing through a blown PA in some basement. As a band, Selfist exists in a peculiar grey area, where we are usually the softest band on the hardcore bill or the hardest band on the punk bill. We’re grateful to be accepted by the former, and to be able to bring a bit of extra aggression to the latter. So, what does hardcore mean as a scene in our present moment? In our opinion, it means passion, hard work, and community focus on a local level, with the understanding that we are participating in a global cultural phenomenon.
