Punk Globe: Hi, and thanks for chatting with us again. I know since our last interview you got married how is the married life?
Sarah: I can honestly say that getting married to my husband; Steve Shelton (he's one of the two guitarists in The Brand, was a pro skater, has played in Glass Heroes for over twenty five years, incredible artist), has been the best thing that ever happened to me. I've never experienced such unconditional love and support of exactly who I am; all of me.
Punk Globe: Have there been any other life changes since our last chat?
Sarah: I'm definitely focusing on expanding my visual arts career and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Punk Globe: How is the music career? What current projects do you have going on?
Sarah: Absolutely hyper-focused on The Brand, which has really turned a corner in terms of projects, label, and shows. We recruited Danny Bravo (The Dark Hearts, The Wronsiderz) on bass and he's really just injected new life and passion and his own unique style into the music. It's really a special mix of players. We just played a blinder of a show opening for The Flesh Eaters! It was really a dream come true for me. Chris D. has always been a vocal and lyrical inspiration for me, in addition to it being the Minute To Pray, Second To Die line up with Dave Alvin, Bill Bateman, John Doe, DJ Bonebrake, and Steve Berlin.
We got picked up by Arizona label AZPX; who are also the skateboard company that released Steve's limited deck, which is just a perfect marriage of things we care about. They're super community/DIY oriented and they give more back than they get. Just fantastic people to work with. We have a split 7" with AZ and skatepunk legends JFA on AZPX due out very soon that a ton of cool people ended up involved with. I think JFA got Mike Vallely on backing vocals which is way rad. We're really looking forward to playing some shows with JFA; we love those dudes, they're like family.
Rich "Rogo" Rogoillo is basically the Pettibone to our Black Flag, so to speak, and does this unbelievable art for The Brand. He designed our logo.
After all that, we're going to head out to Los Angeles to record the full length with Paul Roessler at Kitten Robot Studios. I couldn't be much more stoked on that. He engineered and produced TSOL's The Trigger Complex among many others. That record is incredible.
Punk Globe: What’s something you learned early on in your career that made you a better artist?
Sarah: Honestly, to keep on going when it feels like no one gives a shit. Do it for the love of it, do it because it's in your blood.
Punk Globe: Who would be your dream artist to rock a show with?
Sarah: We're really looking forward to playing with TSOL sometime soon! Another band that's like family to us. I would faint of we ever got to play with Radio Birdman, that would be just phenomenal. Discharge would be amazing, there's few bands that have as much influence on me as they do. I'd love to play with the Drvnk Injvns! The Damned would be blinding, they've been my favorite band since I was just a kid.
Punk Globe: If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Sarah: I'd love to see more open support and community. There's enough damn darkness in the world without shitting on each other, too.
Punk Globe: Who are your musical inspirations?
Sarah: As far as punk; The Damned, Radio Birdman, The Stooges, Destroy All Monsters, The Plasmatics, The Flesh Eaters, Christian Death (OTOP era), Sex Gang Children, SWANS, 45 Grave, The Consumers, Filth, Strychnine. That whole incredible east bay scene that I was lucky to grow up in.
Punk Globe: Describe a real-life situation that inspired you?
Sarah: Every day, moving through the world as an indigenous woman, trying to incorporate who I am and where I come from.
Punk Globe: Describe your local music scene.
Sarah: It's popping off right now! Mad DIY shows, tons of youngsters playing punk rock and being bravely themselves, us older punks playing our asses off every chance we get. Skatercon brings in amazing bands every early March and we'll be playing it in 2020. Whoa, that was weird to write.
Punk Globe: What’s your scariest experience?
Sarah: Trust me, you don't want to know. Suffice it say I grew up real fast.
Punk Globe: Which instruments do you play?
Sarah: In The Brand I'm strictly vocals.
Punk Globe: What was the first tune(s) you learned?
Sarah: Oh gosh, I think my older brother Saul taught me how to play the bass line for Stigmata Martyr by Bauhaus.
Punk Globe: Is your family musical? Describe your family member's musical interests and abilities.
Sarah: My brother plays doom and sludge and is just all the way around a genius. There's very little musical or anything else he's not capable of.
Punk Globe: Who are your favorite musicians? Groups? Albums?
Sarah: The Damned, Discharge, X, TSOL, Swans, Discharge, The Flesh Eaters (Dude buy the new record it's AMAZING), Sex Gang Children, Christian Death, 45 Grave, The Cramps, The Consumers, Howlin' Wolf, Circle Jerks, Social Unrest, CRIME, The Avengers, The Ruts, Dr. Know, Drvnk Injvns, ALL the Thrasher skaterock comps (shout out to the legendary MoFo!!!), Filth (my friend Lenn Rokk of Filth, Strychnine, Isocracy, East Bay Menace and our band together; .38 Gauge recently lost his battle with cancer and I'm always going to be inspired by the musician and the man he was. I'll always carry him in my heart)
Punk Globe: Do you get nervous before a performance?
Sarah: I get excited more than nervous these days. I really enjoy interacting with my band and the audience. It doesn't feel like anything else in the world and I love it. It's funny, I'm actually really shy, but get me onstage and that all changes. I believe in the music we're making.
Punk Globe: What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?
Sarah: Be yourself. Even if you have to stare at your shoes, make it your thing, be mysterious. If the music is real, if you feel it in your heart, it'll come.
Punk Globe: Any upcoming performances or anything else you want us to know about?
Sarah: Really focused on the JFA/Brand split and we have a song over the ending credits in the Spike & Mike Documentary; Animation Outlaws. They flew me out to Oakland to do an interview and it's an amazing production with crazy people interviewed!
Punk Globe: Do you have any social media pages you want us to see?
Sarah: On Facebook we are @thebrandaz, and you can hit us up for merch and news at www.azpx.com
Punk Globe: Thanks for the interview your friendship and continued support.
Sarah: Thank you Lisa, I always really dig talking to you!!
Punk Globe: And thanks to all the readers
Sarah: Check us out. What we do is real, true to the heart, raw old school punk. There's no artifice or bullshit. That's a rare thing in these times. Native American (I'm Modoc/Maidu/Xicana) fronted punk rock. The Brand.
