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.
Transy Warhol are an all trans-femme queer punk band from Austin, Texas that writes songs about the pressures and fantasies of everyday trans lives. On the upcoming album release, Control, the five piece aim to give the weird queer kids standing off to the side something to groove to. TGEFM had a chance to speak with lead singer Ruby del Mar (she/they), Adri Hullet, lead guitarist(she/her), drummer Belle Whitely and bassist Louise Montalvo(she/her) ahead of the record release in our latest Roll of the Dice interview series.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congrats on the upcoming release of Control. What should TGEFM readers know about Transy Warhol? How’d the band start out, and what’s next for you and your growing fanbase?
(Ruby) The band start off initially as a hobby that I wanted to explore a really bad breakup. At the same time, I was also starting to get onto dating apps to put myself back out there. These two things sort of met when I realized a lot of people having instruments in their profiles. From there I had a question to ask myself, “Do I want to date a pretty musician or do I want to have a band full of them?” Once I got in touch with everyone else in the band (whether it be via dating apps, reddit posts, or fruitless craigslist ads) things really start rolling from there.
(Belle) Readers should know that I want to hang out! I love punk music, horror movies, and my instagram is @yourgirlfriendbelle. Hit me up and we can chill.
(Adri) We’re gonna keep on playing rockin’ ass shows, eating cigarettes, and smoking beers.
(Louise) Oh yeah, and we’re releasing a new album called Control.
Which song off the new record are you most looking forward to playing live and what can we expect from live Transy Warhol performances?
(Belle) I like playing “Deadname” live, it’s really fun. Genuinely though if you’re trans and you don’t know many people in Austin, a Transy Warhol show is a great place to meet other groovy trans people.
(Ruby) During live shows, someone’s gonna get hurt and it’s usually me. My favorite is usually “Afterglow” but if I’m feeling particularly angry, it’s “Deadname.”
(Adri) Ruby likes to break other people’s guitars at shows. I’m really proud of “Kaleidoscope” and I love playing it.(Louise) My favorite song to play is “Disassociation.” It’s my magnum opus of basslines.
You’re a Texas-based act, but also transgender & nonbinary artists. Despite liberal pockets like Austin, the Lone Star state isn’t known for its accepting ideologies. How has Transy Warhol faced the challenges of transphobia, especially in the early stages of your career?
(Ruby) I can only speak for myself, but during the process of trying to find a band a musician that I sent my vocal demos to said that he was looking for someone that sounded like a girl and not like me. That interaction alone made me want to start a band with all trans femmes and non-binary people.
(Louise) For me the worst part about living in Texas has been the constant attacks by our lawmakers and other people in positions of power who seek to criminalize the entire existence of trans people.
(Belle) Because of how transphobic Texas is, trans people in Texas have this calling to be very loving and accepting of each other. I think the community of trans people in Austin is stronger and more caring because of the harsh environment it’s in. I just love my friends.
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 know about?
(Belle) Queer bands like Bad Luck Penny (ATX), Upsetting (Denton), Good Pollution (ATX) and Petra von Kan’t (ATX).
(Adri) The Austin glam/punk scene should have more acknowledgement in general and some of our favorites are Lord Friday the 13th, Pinky Rings, Naga Brujo, and Sailor Poon.
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/
