Many thanks to Rose from Masochist for taking the time to answer a few questions about their influences and inspirations for how they approach life and songwriting!
Before we get into it, here are a couple links to Masochist's music, socials and merch.
1. Hiya, what's your preferred name and pronouns, and whose country do you live on?
I'm Rose (she/her), and I live on Bundjalung Country (Northern Rivers).
2. What was the first album that you bought with your own money?
The Power - Vanessa Amorosi
3. What was the first album or artist that got you in to heavier/more abrasive music?
In terms of more abrasive vocals, definitely 2000s emo bands when I was in high school. I remember listening to my burnt copy of Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count by From First to Last on repeat.
For heavier music, Parkway Drive back when they used to play in Byron.
4. What artist or album do you think has really helped to shape your approach to song writing?
In terms of writing lyrics, I feel like I've pulled heaps of inspiration from different corners of the music I listen to. A lot of my lyrics are about societal/political issues that I want people to think/talk about more, and are an outlet for my frustration and anger about people's apathy towards them.
I think my understanding of punk from a young age was that it was meant to be something reactionary against the wrongdoings of people in power, and that it should say and stand for something, and help to build community.
That's what I want to create with the words I write, whether or not I've achieved that is really not up to me.
To name some big influences on my writing- Outright, Gouge Away, PUNCH, Chelsea Wolfe.
5. What artist or album would you say has most influenced your personal philosophies?
Outright - they're probably sick of me referencing them so much by now, but honestly no other band has had as big of an impact as they have, particularly when they released their LP Avalanche.
Not only are they incredible hardcore songs, but the lyrical content of them is something that has helped me to be, and want to be a better person. I had recently made the decision to be sober at this time also, and that really helped me in the early stages of dealing with that transition in my life.
6. What artist or album have you been listening to the most recently?
Pressure by Julia Wolf. From start to finish, every song is killer and some parts are heavy in this really fun and interesting way!
For something heavier, the Weapon X Demo 2 by Weapon X
Thank you again, Rose and Masochist.
Masochist: Bandcamp / Instragram / Bigcartel
Header picture captured by @_moonriot