Run With The Hunted

It's amazing how many great hardcore bands exist, which don't get the attention they deserve over here. Run with the Hunted is such an example. Can't wait for the new EP.

www.myspace.com/runwiththehuntedaz

 Would you please introduce yourself and say some words about “Run with the Hunted.”

arizona and have been around for two years now. in september of 2007 we released a 5 song cdep on a small local label and are currently about to release a 12inch ep this april. our band is disappointed with the lack of radical politics within a counter-culture that was once a potent threat to mainstream society; on some level we’re attempting to change that.

life in phoenix is good; most of us were born and raised here so there is a certain level of affection and nostalgia that you won’t get from the average transplant or tourist. to set the record straight – yes, it’s hot here. agonizingly hot. for about 4 months a year we live with temperatures averaging over 110 degrees farenheit (44 degrees celsius) and it gets very hard to deal with, even to those of us who are used to it. you spend most of your time indoors during summer and try to swim as often as possible. but the remainder of the year is quite pleasant and phoenix is relatively close to some beautiful places all over arizona.

 Most of the limelight in US hardcore seems to be concentrated on a few regions (Boston, New York, California), how is it to start a hardcore band a little bit away from the centers? Where do you see advantages and disadvantages?

i think there is a definite disadvantage coming from a place like phoenix; we're sort of "off the map" and there are considerable obstacles to overcome as a result. i feel like bands that come from well established hardcore hubs (like boston, new york city, and southern california) have tangible advantages that allow them to get bigger and get bigger faster. besides the obvious fact that they have a much larger audience to play to at any given moment, there is also a sort of infrastructure in place to help them along, namely, well established labels, booking agencies, etc.

that being said, i actually like the fact that we're from off the map. i think it has made us work harder for the things other bands simply get and take for granted. i get the impression that a lot of bands have a sense of entitlement and that they "deserve" to have success or exposure etc. coming from nowhere has kept us humble and appreciative; and it has made us all the more determined to achieve our goals.

 What would you say are your main influences besides music? You use a lot of imagery in your lyrics, so would you say that literature has been an influence for you?

i would say that literature has been an influence on my writing. more importantly, it has been influential on my understanding and perception of the world and how i fit into it. there have been some crucial works that have allowed me to see the world in a way i may not have ever conceived on my own; the works of daniel quinn, john zerzan, derrick jensen, howard zinn, and noam chomsky immediately come to mind. a cliché list i know, but there is a reason these authors are consistently cited as influential.

to be honest, my own life experiences are the biggest influence on my lyrics. when something profound happens to me, my first inclination is to write about it. i'm innately interested in conveying my experiences to others. at the same time, i'm greatly inspired by the things that we allow to pass under our radar on a daily basis - for example, the look on a businessman's face as i pass by him in the street or the way the roots of a tree gnarl and twist towards the sun. i try to find inspiration and beauty in the world as i encounter it with my own five senses, which i suppose would explain my constant use of sensual imagery.

“Of course it’s dark” seems to be about the struggles people face in the society and the fight against “them”. Would you elaborate on these lyrics a little more

of course it's dark was one of the most cathartic and honest songs i've written to date. it centers around the unavoidable inner struggle many of us feel as members of a counter-culture: we plainly see the injustice, the inhumanity, and the insanity of the greater society around us and rather than sit idly by and participate, we (ideally) dedicate ourselves to standing in opposition. but sooner or later we realize that our efforts are largely futile and our ability to affect the kinds of changes needed to fundamentally fix things is rather limited.

the song is mostly about coming to terms with what is right versus what is realistic. it’s about accepting that though our efforts to change the world for the better may ultimately be in vain, they are still worth pursuing because they are morally and fundamentally right. there are still things worth fighting for – even if it’s a losing battle.

Washington”. It always feels like we have forgotten these people are humans too and not just anonymous beings. Do you think that the “ruling class” has distanced themselves too much from the average citizen, or how do you see this fight against the indefinite “they”?

united states. the entire financial sector has received billions upon billions of dollars of taxpayer money to compensate for the greedy risky decisions they made; meanwhile, the taxpayers themselves are kicked out of their homes by these very institutions. and truly, how else would “they” be able to do the things they do to “us” and sleep at night? there has to be some sort of detachment for them, some coping mechanism.

 
You’ve posted some lyrics for songs you haven’t released yet, one of them is “hello stranger”, which I feel hard to interpret, could you say some words explaining it a little more?

the song is about the struggles people face on a daily basis to identify themselves. as i said earlier, the society we live in is rigid and relies on separated, defined social stratifications to keep people in place. there is an immense pressure on everyone to “fit in,” to find themselves – literally – amongst a sea of products, religions, careers, etc. time and pressure is about fighting back against that and looking inward to identify one’s self rather than attempting to do it through external superficial means.

Now a political question: John McCain comes from Arizona, how are people coping with his defeat in the election, do the people have the same expectations of Barack Obama as everywhere else in the US?

we do have a new lp called “destroy all calendars” coming out this april on glory kid records and we will be doing a west coast tour of the united states as soon as it is out. the record will actually be a 4 song one-sided 12inch with a screened graphic on the other side. it’s going to be awesome! we’re in the process of touring more and more; eventually the goal is to be touring nonstop and yes! that will eventually take us to europe - that is something we all want more than anything. bring us out?!

Do you have any last words, some recommendations of any kind?

i will recommend that everyone look into adopting a vegan lifestyle, as it is one of the most important and selfless things one can do. i will also recommend that everyone free their bodies from the poisons of this culture to the greatest extent possible; you don’t have to necessarily be straight edge to do this (though you will obviously be cooler if you do!) but a free and clear mind is one of the greatest weapons we can arm ourselves with.