Trans Punk, Population 105: An Interview With Louisiana’s Transmute Dysphoria

By Staff | October 6, 2026

Being loud, punk and trans in a town of just over 100 people can make you stand out pretty quicky.

Transmute Dysphoria has turned that isolation into something bigger and better: support, community, and for anyone who needs it, a family. We had a chance to sit down with them and chat about growing up trans in rural Louisiana, playing shows that don't always feel welcoming, lifelong friendships, heartbreak and finding ways to make music when your body doesn't necessarily cooperate. And somehow we also got Vampire Red hair dye, American Spirit menthols and a Ninja blender into the conversation.

Slagle, Louisiana. Population 105, and you've got a trans band member. Walk us through what that's like for all of you.

Darbi: Well as the resident trans band member I can say it’s awful on a bad day and odd on the best of days. They probably have gotten looks or questions from a few people but I know those two have my back through it all. They deal with me crying sometimes I know that. I go to band practice every week straight from work…brother let me tell you these mother fuckers in this town are brutal. The men in this town can’t decide whether they wana fight me or fuck me and the women ask me the most out of pocket shit ever. It’s exhausting but my band mates keep me going. I look forward to seeing them every week.

Joey: It's hard to explain. It took a while to find our community and everyone just so happens to be in Slagle. I'm not in Darbi's shoes but I can imagine it can be kind of scary, but she knows she has a community that will have her back no matter what.

Stitch: There’s no difference, people are people and Darbi screams like a fucking banshee knocking at your front door and me personally I do not concern myself on the thoughts of others

When you listen to Pre Transition and the songs you’re writing for Post Transition, what's the major difference? Can you hear or feel a progression?

Darbi: A major difference in my opinion. Pre transition was more black flag/distillers inspired and post transition while still punk has a grunge flair. I think we have all matured as songwriters as well.

Joey: For Pre Transition, I was the guitarist and now, for Post Transition, I switched over to drums. Some of the songs on Post Transition are of us trying to figure out a sound going forward and we found our new sound. Its similar to Pre Transtion but more focused.

Stitch: I’ve never really thought about it. If I had to say the band sounds a little tighter and  more unified.

You've mentioned sometimes feeling like you're in "enemy territory" when you play shows - have you ever had a show where you genuinely felt unsafe or knew the crowd didn't want you there?

Darbi: Off the rip our first show scared me. There was another band whose front man was misgendering me and being horribly rude to me. Then some random fuckwad flipping me off and shouting at me from the crowd. The second show had its moments as well, two old fuckers complaining about me and other trans people in our crowd after we got done playing … and again there’s always someone that’s guna say some out of pocket shit to me every time. I believe it was our first show we actually brought a guy named Shawn just to help us load quicker in case things got hairy. Thanks Shawn btw lol.

Darbi, growing up trans in Louisiana, did you have anyone who made you feel less alone - friend, family member, mentor? And is part of Transmute Dysphoria trying to be that for somebody else now?

Darbi: Joey. He’s who I have had through it all as a kid/teen/adult. I mean of course now I have my Wife, Kate and Stitch but…Joey is who’s been through the ups and downs with me. He’s my big brother. He was the first person to know I was trans…and he didn’t even bat an eye. He just didn’t care and that was the first time I think I felt safe with anyone. I never had a mentor or another lgbtq friend growing up but I did have a friend who truly accepted me.  As for the second part of that question yes! I’ve always taken the time to joke around and talk with the younger people at our shows. I’ve even had a few tell me they were trans and that our band meant a lot to them. I want to make every person feel welcomed at our shows and i want them to know they matter, they are loved. Transmute Dysphoria is a family for anyone who wants it.

Joey loves black and symphonic metal, Darbi is coming from the Germs and punk, and Stitch is an old-school Austin punk. How do you blend these styles and make it work without driving each other nuts?

Darbi: Well it was joeys idea to do punk actually! I’m not sure if he knew my voice would be decent for it or what but sure enough, his idea. I had the song Zombie written for about a year prior to forming the band and that was what I brought for us to play first. It clicked well! Right in front of our eyes we were a punk band. It was easy and it was supposed to happen. Joey has the best ideas.

Joey: We all have ideas that we bring to the table. If any one of us has an idea, we will try it and see if it works. We respect each other and the things we have to offer. Practice and writing sessions feel more like hanging out with friends more than anything.

Stitch: We blend like a Ninja blender set to puree.

Stitch, how did you come up with modifying banjo picks to play with muscular dystrophy? Does it affect the way you approach bass compared with other players?

Stitch: Out of necessity. It’s like if you want something bad enough you’ll figure out how to achieve it.

No I don’t approach the bass any different than any other bass player cause the instruments the same it’s just my arm that changed

Darbi and Joey, you've been best friends since you were early teens. How have you managed to remain best friends for more than half your lives and then somehow survive being in a band together too?

Darbi: I’m not sure it just feels like we knew we were destined to be best friends. Once I knew him he was always there. We were both loner types obsessed with alternative music in high school. He was a metalcore kid and I liked stuff like Crowbar and EYEHATEGOD. Remaining friends was easy. I believe in a sense we needed each other. We had spats here and there sure but like we always knew it would be okay. Far as the band goes we have had SEVERAL musical endeavors. The only good one has been Transmute lol. The real problem has been finding that third person, until now of course.

Joey: Ever since we met in high school, we've been playing music together. We've played music together so much that we pretty much know what the other one will play before they play it. Playing in a band together is really easy for us, its just always been hard to find a third member that would work well with us and our personalities. We found the perfect third member, which is the amazing Stitch on the bass.

We have to hear the story behind “Seein Red". How do Vampire Red hair dye, American Spirit menthols and falling for someone you shouldn't all end up in the same song? 

Darbi: Oh girl damn… I’ll just say my life got turned upside down not so long ago, it’s hard to explain without completely airing out my (and other people’s) business. After that i met this guy that i had a complicated relationship with to say the least. He dyed my hair vampire red which is a color from manic panic. I smoked American spirit menthols and he smoked LD menthols and we would argue back and forth over which was better. So naturally being the sappy girl I am I wrote it into a song. Seein Red. I REGRET THIS SONG SO MUCH. Unfortunately it’s the most popular 4 chords I ever put lyrics too. It started out a song that tugged at my heart and made me happy but turned into something I wish I would forget. It serves as a reminder of real genuine heartbreak and how unhappy with life I was at the time. I was falling apart in real time and everyone around me was worried for my well being. Oh and in case you’re wondering, no I do not know if said person really liked me or if it was some kind of odd game. But odd game is what I put my money on. We are also actively trying to phase it out of our setlist. I’m trying to be positive as I can going forward in my life and that song is a negative for me. I’d rather focus on the here and now in life and how good it is! I’ve gotten married, moved to a beautiful place and have a wonderful group of people in my corner. For the first time my life is actually good, and for people like me you have to learn to LET yourself be happy. Seein Red was a chapter and point in time and I’ll let it stay there.

If some trans kid stuck in another tiny rural town discovers Transmute Dysphoria, what do you hope they get from the music?

Darbi: I hope they hear some form of kinship. Something that makes them feel not alone. Shit is guna be hard but it’ll get better. Be strong girlypops it can’t rain forever!

Joey:  I hope they find the empowerment to truly be themselves, unapologetically and wonderfully loud. I hope they find the strength to keep going when things seem down. Hell, maybe they'll even start their own small town Trans Punk Band.

Stitch: Be yourself and fuck the opinions of others. Do what makes you happy and fuck others opinions about it. 

Anyone you'd like to thank for their support?

Darbi: My wife, we just got married in June! She’s been at every show even if she didn’t really wana lol. She’s a true warrior and I love her more than life. Next, Cody Black. One of my best friends I’ve ever had or will have. He always encouraged me to keep going and keep looking. He’s recorded us, loaned gear to us. Cody is the literal greatest. Then my mom, she got me my first amp. My biggest fan. We’ve been through the wringer together.

Joey: I'd like to thank Shawn Simms and Blake Darosa. They have been very supportive through everything we've done.

Stitch: My friends and my family. My wife, Kate for helping me answer these questions. Last but not least Bean Milk. 

Links

https://www.instagram.com/transmute_dysphoria

https://open.spotify.com/album/6eZgjKIjln25jXFL2MAa4b?si=gfg3XFy7TC-LzQ7-hVhbTQ