Built on Solidarity: An Interview with Canada’s Punkterview Magazine

By Staff | March 7, 2026

Punkterview is a Canadian media project dedicated to amplifying the unsung heroes of the punk and hardcore communities, shifting the spotlight from frontmen to the essential behind-the-scenes collective like roadies, techs, and organizers. Founded on a D.I.Y. ethos and a lifelong passion for the subculture, the outlet explores the precarious balance between professional life and creative activism while championing the scene as a supportive family rather than a competition. While the project embraces the digital age's ability to foster global connectivity, it remains wary of modern pitfalls like AI-driven content, instead prioritizing authentic, grassroots storytelling that values the solidarity of the community over personal fame or algorithmic trends.

You’ve been active in the scene for two decades; everyone has that one show or moment that made them realize this wasn't just music, but a lifestyle. What was that moment for you, and how does that energy still show up in your work today?

I think the spark was first lit back when adults at a bar with my father would ask me—just a pre-teen—to get up and sing. I had a few rock bands, played some songs in a private school, in some street spots as a duo, and even did solo tribute sets without ever recording an album.

Later, helping out bands almost like a roadie confirmed that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. But I ended up taking a bit of a detour, a compromise: writing about bands or hosting them on radio shows instead of being center stage myself.

Punkterview aims to highlight the people behind the scenes—the roadies, the sound techs, and the bookers. In your experience, who is the one person in your local scene whose work makes everything possible, but whose name rarely makes it onto a poster?

I’d tell you that it’s impossible for me to choose just one person from the scene who deserves to be on a poster for their dedication like a trophy. Since punk is built on solidarity, success is created by the collective effort of all the people involved. Everyone has their place on scene that's called the family.

We’ve moved over the years from photocopied paper zines to digital blogs and social stories. Do you think the connectivity of the modern global scene has made the community stronger, or have we lost some of the grit of the analog days?

It’s a massive question that could be complex. But I believe that digital technology has won when it comes to connecting the scene. The evolution has been a giant leap for circulating both media opinions and the music itself. However, I fear that the future might not be very bright in that regard, with the rise of artificial intelligence and fake news.

Many people in punk are "slashers" (e.g., musician/booker/label owner). How do you balance the creative urge to make music with the logistical necessity of keeping the scene's gears turning?

I’d say I have the balance of a precarious tightrope walker crossing a wire stretched between two buildings, with no protection, no net. It’s extremely hard to stick to a schedule with family, work, and other projects like Punkterview. But I manage to do it anyway—just don't ask me how.

We love discussing the tough topics affecting the scene. If you could sit every band and promoter in a room for one honest conversation about the current state of the Canadian (or global) punk community, what is the first problem you’d put on the table?

Honestly, for the moment, I’m not sure where I stand when it comes to collective issues in the scene, because I don't see myself as a spokesperson for it. Take the 'female-fronted' label, for example—most singers don't find it relevant, dislike it, and even reject it. ​Personally, I see it more as a landmark, a distinction that draws me in, but not as something meant to diminish women or a trend that everyone has to follow. But then again, maybe that's just my feminist side talking.

Punk is often a gateway to other things such as activism or art. How has your involvement in the scene shaped the way you navigate the world outside of the venue?

I’ve experienced both sides; I’ve been a street team activist since I was 17, and I think founding webzines starting at that same age was a solid first step into action.

As for the art side—from doing graphic design for posters for the very same shows where I'd hand out flyers, to playing in a rock band—that’s also what D.I.Y. art is all about, especially if you're organizing the gig yourself. But hey, it’s nothing too original; plenty of people do it. I’m guessing that’s the case for you too? (editor’s note: yes, yes and yes)

You've mentioned music is a large part of your life until the end. For those who have been at this for 10, 20, or 30 years, how do you keep the burnout at bay?

Even if punk sometimes rhymes with compulsiveness, you have to take the time and step back from certain situations. I’m not an example when it comes to that — I’ve hit rock bottom tons of times — but I’ve learned that punk music isn’t a competition.

Every time I’ve seen people try to show they’re better than someone else, they never lasted long. Just be patient, don’t rush things, and seize opportunities at the right moments; you should be able to avoid crashing tomorrow morning.

Punkterview was born to diversify media coverage. Where do you think the punk and hardcore scenes are succeeding in becoming more inclusive, and where are we still stubbornly stuck in the past?

I don't think we're stuck in the past, and we're definitely not being inclusive. I just believe that existing media outlets focus too much on copy-pasting the same news over and over to feed their algorithms.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I have no interest in building a news media site myself—I’ll leave that to those who probably do it better. So, I’m sticking to just reposting the band.

If your project were to end tomorrow, what is the one piece of what you've done that you hope people would remember you for?

It’s really the kind of question I don’t want to think about, so honestly, I’d say I probably don’t even want people to remember me (laughs). Everyone gets their little moment of glory at one point or another, so whatever people remember, that belongs to them.

Check them out at https://punkterview.blogspot.com