(continued from previous question)
DC: As for America’s obsession with silencing dissent, the fact that Rupert Murdoch’s / Fox’s / News Corp’s MySpace discriminated against and censored us by banning our lead single is evidence that the obsession is more present in our everyday lives than a lot of Americans realize.
There are many people in power like Murdoch who clearly only abide by the constitution when it’s convenient for them. There’s a section called the first amendment in there that gives us US citizens free speech.
I use the word discriminate when I describe what happened with our music online because our “Kill Bill O’Reilly” video was yanked off YouTube, and we were sent an e-mail stating that it was inappropriate content, even though there is some really vile stuff on YouTube that seems to pass their moral inspection.
I wouldn’t have a problem if they were consistent, but it seems that they singled us out because we were expressing some dissent towards the self-proclaimed “most powerful name in news” and their fascist, fear-peddling talking demon head O’Reilly. We’ve since re-uploaded the video and it can be seen on our website: www.eastcoastavengers.com. We also have a new video dropping this week for “The Trouble with Motorcades.”
I feel that our culture of war and covert operations will most definitely continue no matter who is in charge, because the people that we are made to believe are in charge are actually just puppets. They’re actors in the biggest reality show known to man.
Anyone who has done any real research on the subject of control on this planet knows that the centralization of power isn’t even in the White House or the Pentagon. The covert methods of mind control and psychological warfare implemented by the powers that control this entire world will continue as long as we continue to register our complaints with these decoys.
A thief is less likely to pick your pocket if you’re looking at him, right?
How important is it for musicians to be politically or socially outspoken? How can this nation’s system of distraction and unyielding consumerism be overcome?
DC: I think it’s absolutely vital for musicians (and any other artist for that matter) who are informed and aware to make their voices heard. It shouldn’t be so much about the voice as it is about the message though.
That’s the problem with narcissistic entertainers like Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh: their egos are so huge that their shows are so focused on them rather than shifting some of that focus on real issues. Those guys screen material before they go on the air, and pick out stories that give them room to stretch out their already inflated egos and spew their patented brand of lies and hatred.
Besides the obvious differences, that’s one of the things that sets ECA apart from those worms: our voice is unadulterated. We feel like it’s our responsibility to inform while we entertain. In my opinion, great art should challenge popular thought. There’s so much ignorance on the airwaves nowadays. Thoughtless music and popular music shouldn’t be as synonymous as they are.
When it comes to rap, the big record companies want the quick and easy money, so they push music that promotes sex and violence. It’s usually the same in film. It’s like the difference between a fast-food cheeseburger and a filet mignon. Most labels probably wouldn’t even know how to, let alone be up to the challenge of breaking a group that actually has some substance like ECA.
The question of how this nation’s system of distraction and consumerism can be overcome is a loaded one. There are a lot of basic things that need to change. The people are going to have to do some waking up.
We are born into a system that distracts us through the media while it programs us to consume to support the economy. Everything is a commercial nowadays. We’ve been cheated by our government and bought off with technological conveniences.
Just seeing these things, and being aware that they are happening everyday, could lead the people to the right conclusion. A thief is less likely to pick your pocket if you’re looking at him, right?
– Scott Morrow
East Coast Avengers: www.eastcoastavengers.com
Brick Records: www.brickrecords.com