NOTHING WORKS - Bold Talk For A Broken World... (Germany - Melodic/Post-Hardcore - Interview with Alea, Lilian, Eunice).

Hello! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you - your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you and what made you want to get into music?
We are Nothing Works, a hardcore punk band based in Berlin. Each one of us has their own history.
Alea: It’s hard to say, I’ve always liked quite a broad spectrum of music, including heavier styles and HC, but I never imagined myself playing in a heavier band - I think mostly due to fear, self-doubt and a lack of confidence. But making friends in the scene in Berlin and going to shows, learning about the politics and DIY ethos etc. exposed me to it in a way where I felt safer participating and playing the music.
Eunice: My introduction to heavier music started with metalcore.. Since then I knew that I wanted to make music that I related to so much. So I started my own bands and went to (non) DIY shows every time I could. It has always been one of my favorite activities and this is how I got into our local HC scene. Hardcore’s the perfect mix of high energy and shared emotions for me. As someone who has experienced exclusion from certain spaces, I felt welcomed and part of a community for the very first time. I am very grateful for the people that actively work on keeping Vienna’s HC scene as exciting as it is.
Lilian: I got into hardcore and punk in the late ’90s in southern Brazil, drawn by the sense of community and the freedom to create our own space. I started playing in bands and quickly got involved in organising DIY shows and projects. Since then, I’ve stayed connected through music, building platforms and spaces that support community and representation, as well as playing in multiple bands.

Tell me about the band… How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
We met through the DIY scene in Berlin and Vienna, coming from different countries and life paths but sharing similar values and frustrations. The line-up came together because we already knew each other in some capacity. Before Nothing Works, we were involved in different bands and projects. The need to form this band came from wanting to create a space where we could talk about things that affect us personally and politically, which we don’t see many bands addressing, especially because some bands don’t experience the same struggles that we do.

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost?
We play hardcore punk: loud, intense, and emotionally driven. There is a mix of fast-ish parts, heavier moments, and catchy melodies that stick with you. You should listen if you are into bands that are not afraid to be vulnerable and confrontational at the same time, and if you care about lyrics as much as the music itself.

Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences? How important are the lyrics for you? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics?
Our influences come from different corners of hardcore punk and beyond, but also from our everyday experiences. Bands like Gouge Away,  Drug Church, Scowl, The Distillers, At The Drive-In and Angel Du$t are definitely on our influence list. 
Lyrics are equally very important to us. They are not an afterthought. We write about things that sit heavy on our minds, like racism, body-shaming, gender-based violence, migration, and the feeling of not fitting into dominant narratives. We don’t try to give answers, but we want to create space for reflection and confrontation.

About your latest release?
We released our debut EP “Bold Talk for a Burner Account”. It was recorded in Brussels by our friend Imran Siddiqi, whom we really recommend. The release reflects a snapshot of where we were at that moment, both musically and lyrically. It’s available digitally and on physical formats through Emancypunx Records & Refuse Records, as well as at our shows.

Future plans?
We are currently focused on touring. We just had our first UK run around Easter this year and just returned from our first two concerts in Poland. Currently we are finishing writing new material. The new songs feel heavier and more intense, both musically and emotionally. There will be new  music recordings dropping this upcoming summer. We want to keep playing as much as possible within our working-class + student capacities, and continue building connections across scenes. There will be a lot more concerts, one longer tour and a couple of weekenders this year. We hope to make it to France!

Your most insane dream with the band would be?
We don’t really have one as a band. I think it is fair to say we love playing and would hope to be able to keep playing shows and to spread our music and message as far as possible, but it’s not something we would call a dream. 

Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why?
The best shows are usually the ones where there is a real connection between the band and the people in the room. When it feels like everyone is part of the same moment.
The worst ones are when we find out the promoters are racist, xenophobic, transphobic, or misogynistic (or all the 4 Infinite Hatred stones combined) only after we arrive at the gig. A lot of so-called left-wing and anarchist people are very selective with their solidarity, especially when it comes to ignoring other people’s oppression. This happens a lot in Germany, and we are doubly cautious before accepting invitations to play around the country.
The second-worst concert was certainly one where we experienced toilets without safety and privacy.

Next live-appearance(s)?
The next gig coming up is the Berlin Breakout Festival. Amazing line-up where we will play with a lot of bands we admire. Also a relief to play a festival that really predicates its curation on diversity and community connections. 

Some words on your local scene - bands you’re friends with and you’d like to name?
Berlin has a very active DIY scene with a lot of inspiring bands and collectives. We feel lucky to be part of a community that supports each other and creates space for different voices. There are too many to name, but here are a few.
We will definitely shout out bands that our members also play in: Swiss Pleasure, splitmilk, Bull Nakano, Curb and Suave.
From our scene, we would like to shout out: La Haine, Double Life, Oyèmi and the Sad Girls, Shimmer, and Spixe.

Last word is yours..
Support your local DIY scene, question what you are told is “normal”, take care of each other, don’t forget to drink water and fight imperialism ALWAYS.
Free Abya Yala/Congo/Palestine/Sudan!



Credits : 
Live photo 1 - 3 - 4 : Oyèmi Hessou
Live photo 2 : Sam Rockman