Punk, Surrealism, and Finding Community
My name is Lex, currently 23 and located in Maryland USA.
Growing up, I struggled with identity, undiagnosed mental and physical health issues, as well as normal small-town-isolation. Most of the world was not unveiled to me until I went off to study Digital Art in the midwest. From there my life changed dramatically.
Between studying at art school, working for the college radio station, and normal college experiences I was finally able to come into my. own. College radio inspired me to dig into experimental music, leading to ambient, avant-garde, somehow switching to riot. girl, and finding its way into punk.
Do It Better Again by Gonzo was the gateway drug into my music addiction. I had never heard anything like it. (Looking back on it now, it seems so normal and nothing mind blowing. But it is still important to me, nonetheless). All of my experience with with punk before was off-putting. But this was weird and up beat and melodic. Trying. to figure out where it fit, I discovered devocore aka synth punk aka egg punk.
While searching youtube for more of this goofy, child like music I found a discord link in one of the descriptions. This group included lovers of egg punk, musicians, and generally awesome people that showed me everything.
Spring Breeding Rolex G.T.R.R.C.Comps Krimewatch
They inspired me to go to my first punk show at the age of 20. It felt like I was too old to just be getting into it and getting into the scene but I didn't care. I'd drive upwards of 4 hours to see someone. I once drove from kentucky to indiana 4 hours to see Pat and the Pissers at a house that a weird podcast dude threw shows at. Met so many. amazing people and I still do to this day- GO TO GIGS! they're the best.
The punk scene inspired me as an artist. As I learned about Dadaism and Surrealism and performance art in school, I felt like I was seeing versions of it in front of me. From gig posters to lyrics to performances, my focus in my art switched. I began to embrace darker imagery, my mental health, but mostly the unconscious mind the Surrealists have talked so much about. Max ernst , Dali, and the entire Dada movement led me to the collage style and free artistic process I use now. Pick up a magazine or look up old photos online. see what jumps out, what wants to be found. What wants to be together.
I graduated from University in May of 2022. I am now back in MD searching for more music and inspiration. Usually I keep my personal life, my. art, and music separate but I feel combining them all here would be interesting. So, If you are interested in finding new music as it comes out, having conversations about art and mental health, feel free to pitch in. I miss my communities where we had space to share our passions, so here is an opportunity to throw my hat into the ring.
If im just posting to no one, im gonna at least throw in this video of my homies playing at a tacobell. Slutbomb forever x
yousharknotpass
theartofmadeline
jacobvanloon
stormborns
turnnoffyourmind
jbbartram-illu
kaledo-art
