At knifetwister records, we have a pretty clear mission statement - we want to amplify voices that might not otherwise be heard. Sometimes those are members of marginalized groups, or sometimes they are simply bands that are too small to realistically otherwise get any press. However, one side benefit is that we get to meet people from all over the country, and all over the world. Some of them are pretty fucking cool.

Nicole Brice is the founder and editor of the Louisiana-based Mixed Alternative Mag. What you'll find at Mixed Alt: independent coverage, entertainment, passion, and personality. What you won't: rules, censorship, hard news, politics and religion. What you definitely won't find: ads. Woe be to the advertiser that approaches her with a pitch.

I had a chance to chat with Nicole on a wide-ranging course of topics, and since this is our first live interview, I sent her the transcript to eyeball, possibly make changes, fine tune her answers. There were no changes - what she said live is what is getting printed. No second guessing, no equivocation - pretty punk. We hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed conducting it.

Your Best Nightmare is not particularly interested in fitting into the standard constraints of what defines punk. If they did, there wouldn't be a ukulele on stage. New Jersey's self-described Cutest Terrors feed their unique approach into a high-energy lens to create something that's quite a bit different than anything we've every heard. We caught up with Erin and Josh to discuss collaborating, overcoming self doubt and why anyone who thinks they aren't punk is kinda missing the point.

A band can give a shit without taking themselves too seriously. A lot of bands never quite figure that out.

Brooklyn's queercore outfit SHAGGO is firmly rooted in the DIY ethos - for the record, they actually haul around gear on public transportation because nobody owns a car. That sounds pretty punk to us. We had a chance to sit down with them to discuss bad transportation options, good punk shows and why starting a band before you know how to play might actually be a pretty good idea.

Seconds Before The Crash are not veterans of the scene. They didn't hone their chops at CBGB's back in the day, or spend decades grinding it out in a broken down van. Yet, it is their relative youth that makes their music and their attitude so refreshing. Coming straight out of Brooklyn with their signature high-energy brand of hardcore, these guys leave it all on the stage, more often than not leaving the audience with a simple takeaway: "damn, that went hard".

We've interviewed a lot of bands in our history, but never a fan. Why not? Never occurred to us. Great idea though, right?
Katie Wallace is a Cleveland-based punk lifer whose world revolves around the scene — she works at a music venue, DJs locally, and even tied the knot at the Punk Rock Museum with zine-style wedding invites. Her life has always revolved around the true DIY spirit, and the lessons she's learned from years in the scene have allowed her to refuse to compromise on her core ethos. We had a chance to sit down to discuss community, Taco Bell parking lots, and the band that just never did it for her - haters be damned.

Glithc's high-energy hardcore is the type of live experience that knocks you down, and then picks you up again (perhaps to be knocked down again in an endless loop). With Stephen (drums), Larry (guitar), Jamie (bass) and fronted by Gigi on lead vocals, the band rejects societal norms that tell us all to play things safe. In their music and their attitude, they refuse to, and if you don't like it, well, fuck outta here ...

Loaded almost played our July birthday bash, graciously offering to fill in for a last minute cancellation - unfortunately, not all the members were 21. Still, this is a testament to how tight these guys sound at such a relatively young age. Kind of thrash, kind of hardcore, their high-energy sets display both technical precision and unbridled aggression. We had an opportunity to catch up with Esty, Elias, Christopher and Frank to find out where they get their inspiration, their most surreal moment on stage, and why their goal is for the audience to have a good time as well as to punch each other.

The first time I heard Believe in Ghost! was at a battle of the bands in Queens, where I was rooting for the band that'd played before them. I was outside with that band's guitarist getting some fresh air when Believe In Ghost! started. After one song, I turned to the guitarist, pointed inside, and said, "I'm so sorry, but they're gonna win." Believe In Ghost! did end up winning the first round and losing in the finals (booooooo!), but what they did win through their excellent blend of funk-rap-blues and their charming stage presence and maybe their black-and-white baseball jerseys were many new fans. knifetwister records new york sat down with Believe In Ghost! as they were preparing for the release of their second LP.

Coventry Carols is a band that has endured a loss no band (or two human beings) should have to deal with. They tragically lost their drummer, Terry “TT” Taylor, after the recording of their new Album Open Up Fall Apart, yet they have made the decisions to soldier on. And what an album this is, reinforcing their alt rock credibility in the Long Island scene and beyond. With Jon Soda James on guitar and vocals and Cliff Catropa on the four string, expect Coventry Carols not only to bounce back, but to push the boundaries of not only what they are capable of, but what music can mean to the listener. We had a chance to sit down with them for a wide-ranging interview.

Just to get it out of the way, Antiwise is not a collaborative project between Antiflag and Pennywise. They are their own band. Totally separate.

We first became aware of the band upon seeing one of our own Instagram videos on their page with their own music dubbed over it. That being hilarious, they’ve been on our radar ever since, and they should be on yours. A project born of passion, coffee, dad jokes, and a shared love for massive, atmospheric sound, Antiwise is here to make noise, make friends, and just possibly burn everything else down.

What does a band do when the dominant streaming platform funds ICE recruitment ads and invests in military weapons of war? Most bands, maybe holding their nose, put their music on Spotify anyway. Not bratlash. And if that's any indication of the integrity this band has, we think you'll like them. Their debut single "Worth It (is it?)" shows their true DIY ethos with grunge-punk riffs and (intentionally) detuned acoustic guitars. Off the stage, members channel personal experiences into advocating for housing equity and providing safe spaces for marginalized communities. We had a chance to catch up with them to discuss capitalism, fuck you's to an ex and how a happy accident with an overloaded preamp can be just the sound you're looking for.

Ryan Cassata wears quite a few hats - award-winning singer-songwriter, actor, published writer, and outspoken transgender activist. With a list of accomplishments that actually takes some time to scroll through, it’s hard to pin him down into any one box. Yet, it is his activism that truly defines him - the support he gives to his own community is what he prizes the most, and frankly, is the most admirable. In this interview, we cover the influences on his songwriting, what drives his creative process, and what advice he might give a young person struggling with their own identity, and we think it’s worth reading.

Ash Sound Co. has run the sound for 924 Gilman and put on their own DIY annual festival, but they really could be best described as a love letter to the community. Family run, at-cost, these East Bay visionaries are focused on facilitating the perfect sound for young bands just starting out, bands that lack the resources that some Gilman alumni have (not mentioning names, but you know who we mean). Above all, they are committed to keeping events safe, all-ages and inclusive, not to mention fun, and this is how they give back to the scene that has given them so much.