Thomas from Strike Anywhere talks politics, film, major labels

Thomas Barnett of Strike Anywhere sat down for a lengthy interview with French website, Bang Bang. (Though the site is French, the interview itself is in English.)

Thomas discusses everything from the recent American Hardcore film to the future of recorded music, at least for Strike Anywhere:

Seems like labels and bands are scrambling to find the gravity in their lives, to figure out what can make music work in the way that it did even three years ago. We have a lot of love and gratitude to Fat Wreck Chords, and a respect that will never fade. There has been a huge economic shift in the Independent world, and even Fat has had to downsize and alter its business model (thankfully only a little, and they are still very equitable with their bands- that hasn't changed) to survive.

He also takes some time to thoughtfully address major label signings by political punk bands like Anti-Flag and Against Me!:

There are, for sure, inherent awful compromises in having relationships with major labels- almost always part of media conglomerates feeding directly other arms of many industries involved in weapons manufacture, not to mention the general funnelling of art into its toxic and oppressive one dimensional cultural products. But the sincerity and creativity with which our friends rightly mentioned above engage this broader (but not necessarily deeper) forum of spectacle and influence gives me heart and allows for a "wait and see" approach.

You can check out the entire interview here.