Young Asian punk rockers giving back to community

OUT OF PRIDE: young Asian punk rockers giving back to community

9 December 2015

On 24 Dec 2013, Auckland-based Asian feminist punk band Melting Pot Massacre announced their disbandment to the shock of fans in the music, creative and activist community.

They are now ready to share their story.

Notorious for using their music to interrupt white male dominant spaces, bringing fore on issues like racism and gendered violence in New Zealand society, their demise ended 3 years of connecting audiences across various social justice movements through punk music.

However little do people know the amount of social work that goes on, off-stage.

Former vocalist Shasha Ali wants people to know that their demise was not a result of the usual fizz out in most new bands, but the emotional labour that comes with speaking out on controversial issues.

“People were just coming to us after shows, sharing intense stories and victim disclosures,” Shasha says.

“And then on the other end, we got attacked and cyber-bullied for speaking out.”

“We were political, but we were just a young band trying to put messages out there for people to seek help and hope.”

“It became too much for some of us, when victims were telling us all sorts of horrible things, and wanting us to help them directly. In most cases, it was because they felt the system had failed them.“

As a result, a documentary was produced to explore the messages behind their music, their internal struggles and to raise awareness on the lack of safe community-building in the punk music scene.

The band was also featured in New Zealand’s leading family violence campaign It’s Not OK’s multilingual resource for Asian, African and Middle Eastern communities on family violence.

“If anyone out there reckons the punk music scene is all fun and brotherhood, they need to hear what we went through.

‘Out of Pride: The Unapologetic Story of Melting Pot Massacre’ will screen at Whammy Bar, in St. Kevin’s Arcade, Karangahape Road on 20th December at 3pm. Entry is by donation of $10 or more

ENDS

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