“Branching out in new directions from their previous hip hop influenced sound, Rebelmatic has evolved into a hybrid of punk, hardcore, and aggressive funk all their own.” –Rebelmatic, in their own words.
DWP Correspondent Antonio Rodriguez reached out to Rebelmatic vocalist Creature for this interview and photo essay; check the band’s Facebook page for upcoming show announcements. All photos here are by Antonio.
DWP: So tell me about Rebelmatic. How long have you been together and what are the goals behind the project?
Creature: Rebelmatic is a band that has been around for almost a decade. The current lineup has been together for two years, and the core lineup has been together for four years. The goal is to put out our next EP, Eat the Monster, this August. Also, play more festivals, new merchandise designs, and more music. The ultimate goal is to get our music and message to as many people as possible.
DWP: At Punk Island 2017, you performed a new track called “Please Don’t Shoot.” What can you tell me about this song and where can I purchase a copy?
Creature: It’s a song I wrote the lyrics (for) awhile back, and the music had different changes. Finally, we came up with the music that fit the lyrics. The song is pretty self-explanatory. Black men are being killed at an alarming rate. As a black man living in America, this is something that is dealt with on a continuous basis. I am also a father, and knowing that I’m going to have that conversation with my son at some point is very real. The song will appear on our new EP.
DWP: There are photos from that day of you introducing your children on stage. What was their experience with your music prior to the festival and why was important for you to bring them along?
Creature: My son saw Rebelmatic perform when he was about 1 year old at Afro-Punk 2013, but he was too young to really remember much. Punk Island 2017 was my daughter’s first time. The importance of them being there is that I love them more than anything and after them it’s music. So that’s my two loves combined on Father’s Day = Priceless.
DWP: What do you intend for the future of Rebelmatic?
Creature: The future that’s intended for Rebelmatic is being a band touring full time, putting out new music, and traveling and spreading our brand of music. I would love to see seas of people wearing Rebelmatic merch, singing every lyric to our songs, and being a part of the soundtrack of their life. I would love to Play Madison Square Garden. Being a New York City band, that is the apex.
Digital Wheat Paste 