Featured Artist - Torch the Hive
Torch the Hive is using their new single “Shame on You” and their soon-to-be-released 2020 album Flamingo as a platform to create further discussions regarding social justice, socio-economic, and political divisions presented in 2020. They aim not to “ruffle feathers” by declaring certain views “wrong” and thus further polarizing our society. But they instead aim to use the artistic platform they are given to address the systemic issues at hand in hopes of inspiring people of opposing views into mutually sparking vital conversations.
Torch the Hive is a punk rock band formed three years ago with the simple goal of creating music. But, as global tensions rose, they believed it was time for them to musically represent these tensions to create awareness in place of ignorance. Thus, Torch the Hive just recently made the unanimous choice to pivot their musical and lyrical focus to contemporary issues initiated by their new single “Shame On You”.
“Shame On You” was inspired by a trip to Starved Rock (an Illinois state park) with the juxtaposition of natural beauty and contemporary society’s ugly tensions in mind. “Shame On You” aims to raise concern regarding the country’s current state of affairs by questioning the individual complacency of Americans while oppressive governmental tactics have been put in place. Society reinforces and normalizes the false appearance of social change, and racism continues to be a daily occurrence in American life.
Torch the Hive’s full-length, soon-to-be-released album Flamingo will be a “cornucopia of everything in 2020”. Although their music may be dismissed as a poole of frustrations, anger, and pain, their goal is to bring individual, communal, and national healing through these crude emotions because both groups of our bi-partison system seem to be expressing the same mistrust.
Torch the Hive will have a live stream set comprising songs from their new, never-before-released Flamingo album on August 28th on Instagram @_societychi. Stay tuned to Torch the Hive’s social media for Flamingo’s release date!
Spotify: Torch the Hive
Instagram:@torchthehive, @_societychi LIVE August 28
Facebook: @torchthehive
Twitter: @torchthehive