ON OUR RADAR: THE COLLECTIVE BUS
The Collective Bus tell us how they use their platform to advocate for important issues, and discuss the importance of rebuilding your mental health.
Introduce yourself!
Hello there, we are The Collective Bus. It is our pleasure to meet you dependent on the quantized state of a deterministic universe where we are both a particle and a wave that only exists once observed.
How would you describe your music to a potential listener?
We’re an alternative rock band with afro-cuban influence. It’s more of an attitude than something defined which probably operates at a hindrance to our ‘brand’. You decide to start somewhere and arrive at a completely different destination, so you try to go the genre across the street to expand the palate, but then you get lost. Genre is really a capitalist invention anyway. We’re DIY, we’re weird, and we’re here to have a good time. If that sounds like your bag and you’re not a creep about it then join the ride.
Since being a BAND, do you feel it has grown in the direction you hoped for, or has there been any setbacks?
I think I speak for anyone with a dream when I say “God, no. Oh god no.” The only thing that you can expect about a plan is that it will go awry. The pursuit of happiness is one coated with disappointment because once you’ve climbed that ladder, another ladder is there to greet you. These externalities can’t grant the fulfillment that we desire, this rebirth of our souls where everything we don’t like about ourselves has been magically fixed by virtue of one thing going right. That said, plenty of things have gone right. The band has only gotten tighter, our shows have gotten better, we’re no longer bound by this desire for commerciality in favor of authenticity, we record entirely in-house DIY style. I never imagined so many people to leave so soon and this pandemic has certainly colored a year of our lives, but we’re getting through it like anyone else.
Which tracks are you most proud of to date and why?
I really like the songs that no one seems to like, even among the band. ‘We Always Fall!’ is something weird enough that not only is cathartic to play, but improves every time we play it. I want more punk energized music in our set. ‘Clichéd’, and ‘Rusty’ is on the pop end of the spectrum, but is imbued with some great social commentary, I just hope it’s received well. Unless I’m writing about bigots(or some equally deserving party) there is malicious intent to the topic usually making myself the butt of the joke. Pride is a weird word to describe it because I don’t have an ego about my songwriting, I just write songs that people happen to like. It’s more that I’m content with these tunes within my repertoire. I’m excited for my other bandmates, great songwriters in their own way, to inject more of their voice into the set. That is something I would feel proud about.
Where do you feel you fit in in an ever changing and demanding music scene?
I’ve spent my whole life not fitting in to anything, why start now? And to what scene? We live in fortunate times of diversity where people can appeal to the most niche markets through the internet. I would rather people like us for us than try to appeal to some invisible demographic. Now a man has to get fed, I’m not above a paycheck right now so if I see a wave I will ride it, but right now there is no ocean. I’m enjoying whatever freedom that allows.
Do you have any tips for keeping your mental health in check throughout this period of time?
Be patient, I would start meditating as soon and regularly as possible. Focusing on the breath has helped me a lot in combating my intrusive thoughts and dealing with general unpleasantness. The world is rebuilding so why shouldn’t you? Practice self-care and try not to concern yourself with things that are outside of your control.
What issues are important to you? How do you use your music and platform to communicate these?
Fighting the rise of authoritarianism, bigotry, and general unpleasantness. We have to face the paradox and cannot tolerate intolerance. There are specific issues on my mind like the arrest of Aleksei Navalny, the necessary unionization of workers for near corporate monopolies like Amazon, the coup in Myanmar, the militarization of police against its own citizens in Uganda. Although my focus is inward to the US, I do see myself trying to advocate for human rights across the world. Obviously I’m using interviews like these and whenever I can as a Human being to signal boost these pressing issues, the show itself is different. I’m not there to preach, but it is a church. A Church for Otherness. We’re here to celebrate what makes us different by providing a space where people live authentically. By being honest on stage, we hope people can share in that. The only thing people have to be ashamed about is if they hold beliefs that sincerely hurt other people(bigots, pedophiles, murderers etc.).
What are your top three albums at the moment?
Well the Bartok String Quartets is some of the best music ever written period, but that’s not an album. I guess Adrianne Lenker’s Songs have been in my rotation these past few months, just heartbreaking. Been getting into a lot of Fourth/Fifth Wave Ska like Kill Lincoln, BAD OPERATION (their recently released self-titled is dope as fuck), Be Like Max, We are the Union, etc. dive down that rabbit hole ska is the best genre. A great punk adjacent band I discovered last year was The OBGMS and I deeply enjoyed their album The Ends. Covet’s new album Technicolor is fantastic. For pop, I really enjoyed Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia and Rina Sawayama’s SAWAYAMA.
What’s one song you wish you could have written?
Flyday Chinatown by Yasuha or any of Tasturo Yamashita’s big hits, the bass lines are an absolute vibe and a half. No debate. No devil’s advocate. This is just facts.
If you could tour with anyone, who would it be?
This is such a non-answer, but I just want to tour with friends. A lot of the time you are doing this concurrent train business with the act that you’re opening for or vice-versa so I think it’d be cool to actually have a communicative relationship with the people I’m working with. Then you also have to consider like, will your audience like you? Does this match up make sense? Is this the lateral move? Then there is the economic concern. So stripped from all of that I just want friendship. (Paramore. Paramore is my answer.)
What should your fans be expecting from your band in the near future?
Operate without expectation because that's what I'm doing. Plans are meant to be obstructed. We don’t know what’s up ahead, but I hope you’re up for the ride. Thanks for reading. If you can, please donate to Feeding America or whatever charity strikes your fancy. The world is rebuilding itself and it needs your support. Much love.