Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A Pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
Toronto’s Debt Cemetary joined TGEFM for today’s portion of our Roll of the Dice interview series. During our brief chat we discussed the politically driven single “Let’s Murderlize ‘Em,” the future of the music industry and what’s next from Debt Cemetary.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congrats, on the release of “Let’s Murderlize ‘Em.” Could you tell us a bit about Debt Cemetary and the single?
Sure thing! Debt Cemetary is a hard hitting, fast punk band, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Our new single, “Let’s Murderlize ‘Em!,” is a powerful track chalked full of social political lyrics, charged up by our guitarist/backup vocalist, Eddie Knowlton. It was his first major writing contribution to the band, which helped us find the direction we wanted to move in.
What is it about music that you are most passionate about? What motivates you to keep writing?
We are all driven by the same thing – to make beautiful punk music with like-minded people. We all love bringing a tight and energetic live show, while also putting all of our emotions into our music. The motivation to keep writing comes from having only putting out singles so far, and we are currently working on an album!
“Let’s Murderlize ‘Em” deals with the civil rights protests, marches and demonstrations of 2020. How else has the current political and cultural landscape affected or influenced your music?
We don’t consider ourselves as very political people but with everything that was going on during the 2020 protests and demonstrations, it wasn’t something that could just be ignored anymore. Everyone had an opinion on the matter at that time and we just wanted to express how we felt in the best way we know how to with some fast, hard-hitting music.
Nobody can deny the world has been changing drastically over the last few years. Where do you see the future of music, both for Debt Cemetary and also for the industry at large transitioning in light of these events?
Music is always on a crazy journey throughout time and within society but the best thing we can take notice of is the progression of artists. By that I mean the newer faces and personalities we’re seeing on stage and on screens. The uprising of females (of all forms) taking to stages of all sizes across the music world is something that needed to happen a long time ago but I think we’re closer than ever to having a truly open-minded industry. But we all still need to do our part to keep our music family and friends safe and support those who are marginalised still to this day within our scene. We should all be here to help one other, not hurt each other.
What album, band, or even, significant singles made you go “Yeah, this is what I want to do” Not just an influence but who or what was the catalyst?
The first time any of us heard Belvedere is probably a direct catalyst to why and how all of us found our way to each other in this wonderful project so many years after the fact. If you’re familiar with that band you know how much they love what they do and how much that shows in their on stage presence and live shows. We’re honoured and privileged to be able to call them friends and tourmates nowadays but they’ll still always be our heroes.
What is the best piece of advice, relating to life or music, you’ve received?
Be humble, and treat everyone around you with love and respect.
One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should?
The punk scene across the world is booming right now and we couldn’t be any more stoked to be a part of it. If you haven’t already, definitely check out:
Straightline, Making Friends, On A Hiding To Nothing, Wasting Time, Rag Ripper, Lime Ricky, No Matter, Wordplay, The Filthy Radicals, Choices Made, Wise Guise, Hellaphant, Brutal Youth, The Holdouts, Heavy Petter, The Mad Murdocks…the list goes on and we’d love to chat bands in person some time!
If you were unexpectedly thrust into the political sphere, on a local or national level, what would be your first order of business? How would you impact society if you had legislative power?
We would obviously love it if everyone who was suffering due to mental, physical or financial issues was able to receive the help and support they need to live a life without shame or discomfort. So many people are struggling and we just want everyone to have the same advantages and opportunities as the next person regardless of who they are.
We would also love to demolish the laws that make it so difficult for bands to cross the Canadian and U.S.A. border to perform. It is a major factor for independent musicians of all styles, especially for Canadians, and the cost for a smaller band just to get in a vehicle and cross the border is incredibly high and therefore not feasible for the vast majority of us.
Beyond “Let’s Murderlize ‘Em”, what’s next for Debt Cemetary?
We’re playing a bunch of shows, starting at the end of March, which includes a tour to Pouzza Fest with our pals in Wolfrik (Edmonton, AB)! As soon as that’s over, we’re headed into the studio with our pal/engineer/mentor, Matt Gauthier (Motion Sickness/Arc Studios).
Was there anything I missed that you’d like to share or dive deeper into with our readers?
Please give us a like/follow on any of our socials, check out our songs that are streaming, or come check us out at a show near you!
March 30 – Toronto, ON @ See-Scape w/ Lime Ricky, Wasting Time, Llamando A Julie
March 31 – Waterloo, ON @ Dive Bar w/ Rag Ripper, Suplex, Back Breaker
April 1 – Windsor, ON @ Meteor w/ Riverside Drive, Cons of Jupiter
April 28 – Hamilton, ON @ Corktown w/ Fortune Cove, Father Figure, Moore Ave
May 16 – London, ON @ Palasad Social Bowl w/ Wolfrik
May 17 – Hamilton, ON @ Doors Pub w/ Wolfrik
May 18 – Toronto, ON @ Bovine Sex Club w/ Wolfrik
May 19 – Peterborough, ON @ Historic Red Dog w/ Wolfrik
May 20 – Montreal, QC @ Pouzza Fest
May 21 – Gatineau, QC @ Minotaure w/ Wolfrik
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
