We Just Show Up And Play: An Interview With NYC’s DIYing Breed
Photo Credit: Sindi B (@dj_sindi_halfrats)
DIYing Breed is a punk band formed by veterans of the New York City punk scene. Their collective vision was to pursue a distinct sound and style, characterized by the lost art of analog recording combined with an authentic, raw punk rock performance. The name itself, DIYing Breed, carries a dual meaning for the band members, referencing the necessity of maintaining control over the final creative product by doing it themselves, and also serving as a commentary on humanity participating in its own demise.
The band members—Victor (guitar), Bat (vocals/lyrics), Ned (bass), and Jimmy (drums)—have known each other for a long time and share a background in the same NYC punk scene. Their creative process usually begins with Victor developing a riff on the spot, which quickly comes together due to the music's straightforward nature. Bat contributes lyrics from his notebook, and Jimmy and Ned craft their rhythm parts to complete the song. Victor's driving and uncompromising guitar playing is considered the central hook of the band's powerful energy, with the rhythm section providing the foundation and Bat injecting his chaotic frontman persona. The core themes of their music revolve around calling out the bullshit in life without being preachy. They believe the societal issues fueling their music are the same as decades ago, just worse and now out in the open.
Welcome! Given the decades-long careers of the members, what specific moment or conversation led to the concrete decision to form DIYing Breed now?
Victor: It was no big deal. Bat called me up one day and said let's do something, and I wasn't in any other punk bands at that moment so off we went.
Ned: Victor and Bat already had some ideas for songs worked out, they asked me to come to a rehearsal at RMRS so I said sure.
With backgrounds in different NYC punk scenes (crust, hardcore, rock), what unifying principle or shared sonic vision was immediately apparent when you started playing together?
Victor: We've all known each other for a long time and have played together before, hung out together. We all came out of the same "scene" and know most of the same people, so we're all kind of on the same page to start with.
Ned: We all wanted to chase down a certain sound/style. The kind of “lost art” of analog recording combined with a rough and ready punk rock performance persona.
The new album is nearly complete—what is the working title, and what core message or feeling ties the tracks together?
Ned: Title is still being discussed. Each track sounds uniquely DIYing Breed. As far as core message see Victor’s response to the collective philosophy question.
Photo Credit: Steven Messina (@hardcoreshutterbug)
How does the band name, DIYing Breed, reflect your collective philosophy in 2025, especially considering the different ways the DIY ethos has evolved since the 1980s?
Victor: You can look at that name a couple of ways. I like to think of it as humanity participating in its own demise. We're doing it ourselves.
Ned: These days with what we do it’s virtually impossible to have control over the end result without doing it your self.
How has the creative collaboration been different from your previous work? Was there any adjustment period needed to blend such established individual styles?
Ned: In this band we have had the advantage of having Flux Magnetic Studios as our home base for rehearsal and recording. We all participated in building and fitting it out. It allows us to stretch out and work out our sound.
Jimmy came from bands like Virulent Strain and the FUs; how do you see his role in the rhythm section supporting—and driving—the sound of these three punk veterans?
Ned: Jimmy played bass in Public Nuisance, Virulent Strain and the FUS . He plays drums in DIYing Breed
Photo Credit: Rich Zoeller (@zm_archives)
Your style is described as delivering social commentary without the preachiness. Can you elaborate on how you achieve that balance? Where do you draw the line between commentary and dogma?
Victor: Not telling anyone how to live or what to believe. Calling out bullshit in life isn't preaching; plus not all songs have to be about social commentary. We're not members of a religion or political party, so We're not spewing out dogmatic ideas or propaganda.
When developing a new track, who typically initiates the ideas (riff, lyric, rhythm), and how does the song get passed around and refined by the group?
Victor: So far, mostly I usually come up with a riff on the spot and we just go from there. It's not complex jazz or anything like that, it's actually pretty simple music, so it all comes together pretty quickly.
Ned: Bat has a notebook of lyrics which he either pulls words out of into or writes new ones into. Jimmy and I figure our parts to tie it all together.
Which specific song on the new album best embodies the theme of sharing your collective personal experiences as punk lifers in NYC?
Ned: Alphabet City
What musical element—whether it's Ned's riffs, Bat's bass lines, or Jimmy's drumming—do you feel is most crucial to delivering that promised fast and powerful energy?
Ned: To me the hook is Victors guitar playing, driving and uncompromising with a melody coming through it. Jimmy and I as the rhythm section drive it home and Bat provides the chaos that is his front man persona.
Having been active since the 1980s, what is the single most significant positive change you’ve witnessed in the NYC punk/hardcore scene, and what element do you wish had stayed the same?
Victor: The NYC punk hardcore scene I knew is pretty much dead and gone, so I can't talk about any positive change. I would be nice if everything were like 1982 again, but all things must pass.
Ned: The unpredictably spontaneous and volatile excitement of the 80s scene has been replaced by a less violent and safer atmosphere, much like NYC itself.
Do the current societal issues that drive your music feel different—more or less urgent—than the issues that fueled Nausea or Reagan Youth decades ago?
Victor: They are the same exact issues, just worse. Same shit, different and larger pile.
Ned: People used to talk about fascism and rights being taken away creeping up on us. Now it’s out in the open for all to see.
Is there one legendary (or long-gone) venue from the NYC punk scene that truly embodies the sound or spirit of DIYing Breed, even today?
Victor: CBGB was good, but like the rest...gone.
How important is it for DIYing Breed to introduce your music to a younger audience who might not be familiar with the history of Nausea, Public Nuisance, or the FUs?
Victor: Younger audiences shouldn't really give a crap about our music or any of those bands really. They should be making their own movements and bands, and scenes. If they like and support what we do, great! But I never made music for any particular demographic.
Ned: It is awesome when younger audiences respond to what we do. Some dig it, some don’t, to each their own.
Can each of you share one piece of gear (guitar, bass, amp) that has been with you since your 80s punk days and is still essential to your sound today?
Victor: I still use my Marshall plexi. It's served me well.
Ned: I still have a G and L SB-1 bass from the 80s, I use it for recording cause it sounds fantastic.
How do you physically and mentally prepare for the demanding, high-energy performance that is a DIYing Breed show?
Victor: No prep really, we just show up and play.
Ned: I focus on my breathing
Photo Credit: Rich Zoeller (@zm_archives)
With the album nearing completion, what is the primary goal for the band in the next 12 months? Is it intensive touring, a specific geographic tour, or moving directly onto the next creative project?
Ned: A physical release LP with distribution and a tour.
What is the one thing you want fans—both old and new—to understand about the enduring spirit and message behind DIYing Breed?
Ned: We have survived for decades by our wits and good luck. We encourage others in their efforts to do the same while bringing coolness into the world.
We would like to thank Sindi Halfrats, Drew Stone, Secret Servicemen, Ronnie Wheeler, Jason Klank Hostile City Oi, Jim Martin Zero Hour and Carpazine
Links:
https://diyingbreed.bandcamp.com/
https://music.apple.com/us/album/whos-to-blame/1772579072?i=1772579073
https://music.apple.com/us/album/in-disguise/1757369861?i=1757369862